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HISTORY 



OF 



Lafayette County, Mo., 



CAREFULLY WRITTEN AND COMPILED 



FROM THE 



MOST AUTHENTIC OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE SOURCES, 



INCLUDING A HISTORY OP ITS 



Townships, Cities, Towns and Villages, 



TOGETHER WITH 



▲ condensed history of missouri; the constitution of the united states, 

and state of missouri; a military record of its volunteers in either 

army of the great civil war; general and local statistics; 

miscellany; reminiscences, grave, tragic and humorous; 

biographical sketches of prominent men and citizens 

identified with the interests of the county. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



St. LOUIS: 

MISSOURI HISTORICAL COMPANY. 

1881. 



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Lz,Ws 




30<3 ' 



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PREFACE. 



In our diligent search for four months seeking the information embod- 
ied in this history, a few men have been indifferent about it, but almost 
universally we were met with welcome, and those who could furnish 
information were glad to do so. And a few have taken such pains to ren- 
der us valuable assistance that we wish to make our special acknowledg- 
ments to them for it. Ethan Allen, Esq., furnished us the oldest files of 
Lafayette county newspapers now in existence. Captain Andrews, the 
deputy county clerk, has our thanks for the uniform kindness and good 
will with which he aided us in our frequent occasions to examine the musty 
and mouldy old records in the county vaults. We are indebted to Cap- 
tain A. A. Lesueur, editor of the Lexington Intelligencer, for personal 
favors that were helpful; also to G. Clayton, John Burden, and E. Win- 
sor, for loan of scrap-books containing many valuable records, narratives, 
military orders, official reports, and other documents of the war time not 
found in any of the printed histories. To Dr. J. B. Alexander for many 
favors; to Henry Turner, postmaster, for bound files of the Lexington 
Register', to H. C. Chiles, Esq., for his Centennial Fourth of July history 
of the county; to Dr. Gordon for special assistance in regard to old and 
long-forgotten pioneer school matters; to Captain J. O. Wilson, of Lex- 
ington, and Col. W. F. Switzler, of Columbia, Mo., for loan of valuable 
books; to the Lexington Intelligencer company for free access to all their 
files, etc., etc. It was a vast work. This county has had a long and intensely 
history-making career. We found material plenty to make three books 
instead of one; and the burden of difficulty was to select those things which 
would be of most permanent interest and value to our patrons, and then 
condense them to the necessary limits of the promised volume. The work 
has been done with conscientious care, with painstaking and arduous labor, 
with unpartisan candor, with good faith and good will towards all; and 



6 PREFACK. 

now it is respectfully submitted to the judgment, acceptance, and use of 
those who have kindly given their pledges in support of the undertaking — 
confident that it is in full measure of every promise on our part, and trust- 
ing that it will be entirely satisfactory to our patrons. 

Yours truly, 

THE PUBLISHERS. 



CONTENTS. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



Page. 

Historical and Political 9 

Prehistoric Missouri 10 

The White Race in Missouri 15 

Missouri as a State 25 

Summary of Events and Dates 25 

Counties and population 26 

Census Report, 1880 27 

State Finances 29 

Presidential Vote, 1820 to 1880 ,. . . 30 

Governors From 1820 to 1880 31 

United States Senators 31 

Members of Congress 32 

Public School System 34 

Protectional Laws 40 

Homestead Exemption 40 

Exemption of Personal Property.... 42 

Rights of Married Women 43 

Taxation 43 

Public Debt Limitation 44 

Comparative Tax Rate 45 

Federal Officers in the State 46 

Missouri's Distinguished Men — 

Daniel Boone 47 

Thomas H. Benton 47 

James B . Eads 48 

Carl Schurz 49 

Prof. Charles V. Riley 49 

Missouri in Civil War 50 



Page. 

Geology and Minerals 66 

Geological Chart 67 

Mineral Resources 72 

Earth, Clays, Ochres, etc 77 

Geography of Missouri 78 

Rivers and Water Courses 81 

Notable Springs 82 

Soils and Their Products 83 

Wild Game 85 

Climate 87 

Healthfulness of the State 89 

Agriculture 90 

Staple Crops 91 

Horticulture 93 

The Grasshoppers 96 

Navigation and Commerce 99 

The Lewis and Clark Expedition 100 

First Steamboats in Missouri 101 

The Barge System 103 

Railroads in Missouri 104 

Manufacturing in Missouri 107 

Principal Cities in Missouri 108 

Constitution of the United States 113 

Constitution of Missouri 124 

Abstracts of State Laws and Forms. . . .160 

Practical Rules for Every Day Use 190 

Names of the States of the Union and 
Their Significance ....196 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



Page. 

Pioneer Events 20jfT 

First Court 208 

Geology of County 226 

Schools and Colleges 242 

County Organizations 264 

Newspapers 272 

Events- and Incidents by Years 282 

Elections 296 

County Finances 305 

Railroads 310 

War History 329 

The Battle of Lexington 339 



Page. 

Price's Raid 367 

Confederate Soldiers' Record 376 

Federal Soldiers' Record 386 

Township Histories — 

Clay Township 396 

Davis Township 405 

Dover Township 413 

Freedom Township 422 

Lexington Township 431 

Middleton Township 463 

Sniabar Township *. 467 

Washington Township 476 



CONTENTS. 
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY. 



Page. 

Clay Township 482 

Davis Township 509 

DoverTownship 537 

Freedom Township 569 

City of Lexington 612 



Page 

Lexington Township 633 

Middleton Township 654 

Sniabar Township 673 

Washington Township 683 

Additional Biog. Davis Township . . .701 



History of the State of Missouri. 



PART I.— HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

When a book is written, it is presumed that the writer had some object 
in view and some end to achieve by his labor in collecting the material 
and writing the book; and it is right that he should put himself on good 
terms with his readers at the outset by making a brief, but frank and 
honest statement of his object, plan and purpose in the book which he 
offers to public patronage. The writer of this History of Missouri has 
aimed to embody in a brief space the greatest amount of solid and reliable 
information about things which directly hinge and center upon or within 
the territory of this State — this international commonwealth, which holds 
by right divine the royal prerogative of a destiny imperial and grand, if 
she can acquire or develop human brain and muscle adequate to utilize 
wisely, honorably and energetically her magnificent natural resources, 
both of commercial position and of agricultural and mineral wealth. The 
writer's desire and effort has been to present nothing which would not be 
read with deep interest by every intelligent citizen of Missouri at the 
present time; and also stand as a permanent body of information, at once 
useful and reliable for future reference. Discussion of theories, problems 
or doubtful matters has been avoided; solid facts have been diligently 
sought after; and the narrative has been made to embody as many facts 
and events as possible without falling into the dry-bones method of mere 
statistical tables. In fact, the limit of space allotted him has compelled the 
writer to condense, epitomize, shorten up — and therefore continually to 
repress his desire to embellish the narrative with the graces of rhetoric 
and the glow of an exuberant and fervid enthusiasm. This, however, 
secures to the reader more facts within the same space. 

In preparing this work more than a hundred volumes have been con- 
sulted, to collate incidents and authenticate dates and facts, besides much 
matter gathered from original sources and not before embraced in anv 
1 



10 HISTORY OF THF <*TATE OF MISSOURI. 

book. It is not presumed that there are no mistakes or errors of state- 
ment herein made; but it is believed that there are fewer of such lapses 
than commonly occur with the same amount of data in similar works. 
The classification of topics is an attempt to give them a consecutive and 
consistent relative place and order in the book, for convenience of inci- 
dental reference or of selective reading. 



PRE-HISTORIC MISSOURI. 



THE MOUND-BUILDERS, Etc. 

Every State has a pre-historic history — that is, remains and relics are 
found which show that the land was inhabited by a race or races of men 
long before its discovery and occupation by a race sufficiently advanced 
in the arts of civilization to preserve a written record of their own 
observations and doings. It is now well established that every portion of 
the United States was inhabited by a race of men grouped under the 
general name of " Mound-builders," who preceded the modern hunter 
tribes called "Indians." It further appears, from all the evidence accumu- 
lated, that the Mound-builders were a race that made permanent settle- 
ments, and built earthworks of considerable extent for defense against 
enemies, both man and beast; also for sepulture, for religious rites, and 
for memorial art; it is also evident that they cultivated the soil to some 
extent, made rude textile fabrics and clay pottery, and wrought imple- 
ments of domestic use, ornaments, charms, toys, pipes, etc., and weapons 
of war and of the chase, from flint, porphyry, jasper, hornstone,. granite, 
slate, and other varieties of rocks; also from horn, bone, shells, and other 
animal products; and from native copper. But they had no knowledge 
of iron, nor any art of smelting copper; they merely took small pieces of 
the native ore and hammered it cold with their stone tools until it took 
some rude shape of utility, and then they scoured and polished it to its 
utmost brilliancy; and it is altogether probable that these articles w r ere 
only possessed by the chieftains or ruling families. Plates of mica are 
also found among their remains, with holes for suspension on cords 
around the neck or body; and lumps of galena or lead ore sometimes 
occur, but these must have been valued merely as trinkets or charms, 
because of their lustre. Remains of this people are found frequently 
both on the bluffs and bottom lands of the Mississippi and Missouri 
rivers, and, in many States, far inland, also. 

The first mention of such remains in Missouri is made by a U. S. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 11 

exploring expedition under Major S. H. Long, in 1819. This expedition 
went in the first steamboat that ever puffed and paddled its way against 
the swift, muddy current of the Missouri river; *the boat was named 
" Western Engineer," but it had a double stern-wheel, or two wheels, one 
of them named in large letters, "James Monroe," and the other "John 
C. Calhoun," in honor of the then President and Secretary of War. 
This steamer had to stop at St. Louis for some repairs; and two members 
of the expedition, Messrs. Thomas Say and T. R. Peale, improved the 
time by surveying a group of twenty-seven ancient mounds which occu- 
pied ground that is now all covered over by the modern city of St. Louis. 
This occurred in June, 1819; Mr. Say prepared a map of the mounds 
and a brief account of them, and this appears to be the first authentic 
record of such ancient works within the territory now constituting the 
State of Missouri; his notes on these mounds were published in 1823, in 
the report of Major Long's expedition, but his map of them was never 
published until 1862, when it appeared on page 387 of the " Smithsonian 
Report" for the year 1861. In his account Mr. Say says: 

"Tumuli and other remains of the labors of nations of Indians (?) that 
inhabited this region many ages since are remarkably numerous about 
St. Louis. Those tumuli immediately northward of the town and within 
a short distance of it, are twenty-seven in number, of various forms and 
magnitudes, arranged nearly in a line from north to south. The common 
form is an oblong square, and they all stand on the second bank of the 
river. * It seems probable these piles of earth were raised 

as cemeteries, or they may have supported altars for religious cer- 
emonies." 

It was from these mounds that St. Louis derived her pseudonym of the 
"Mound City"; but this name is now almost entirely obsolete, since the 
city has risen up to claim the prouder title of " Inter-Metropolis of North 
America". When the largest one of the mounds was leveled some 
skeletons were found, and some thick discs with holes through them; 
they had probably served as beads, and were wrought from shells of a spe- 
cies of fresh water clam or mussel. Numerous specimens of wrought flints 
were found between St. Louis and Carondelet, in 1660; and in 1861 an 
ancient flint shovel was dug up while building military earthworks. 

In Mississippi county, in the southeastern corner of the State, there is a 
group ol mounds covering ten acres, in section 6, t. 24, r. 17, varying 
from ten to thirty feet in height. About lb55 these mounds were 
explored by two gentlemen from Chicago, and they lound some pottery, 
with men represented upon its sides: one figure appeared to be a priest 
or some official personage, as shown by his head-dress, and the other 

* Campbell's History of Howard County says: '• May 28th, 1819, the first steamboat— 
the ' Independence,' Capt. Nelson, time from St. Louis, including all stops, twelve days — 
landed at Franklin on her way up the [Missouri] river." Thus it seems that Major Long's 
boat was really the second one to go up, although in most histories it is mentioned as th« 
first — and it wo* the first that went up any great distance. 



12 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

represented a captive bound with thongs. Both figures showed the 
peculiar contour of head and features which marks the mound-builder 
race. 

In December, 1868, some laborers engaged in grading Sixth street, in 
East St. Louis, dug up a nest of unused flint hoes or shovels, and another 
deposit of shells with string-holes worked in them, and another deposit of 
boulders of flint and greenstone, ready to make more tools or weapons 
from. These deposits were on high ground, and about half-way between 
two ancient mounds. 

In 1876 or 1877 some ancient mounds were discovered on the banks of 
the Missouri river near Kansas City. They were in groups of three 
and five together, at different points for five miles up and down the river. 
Some were built entirely of earth, and some had a rude stone chamber or 
vault inside, but covered with earth so that all looked alike outside. They 
were of an irregular oval shape, from four to six feet high, and had 
heavy growths of timber on top. Mr. W. H. R. Lykins, of Kansas 
City, noticed a burr-oak tree five feet in diameter, growing on top of 
one of them, and the decayed stump of a black walnut of about the same 
size, on another. In describing the exploration of some of these mounds 
Mr. Lykins gives some points that will be of interest to every one. He 
says: 

" We did not notice any very marked peculiarity as to these bones 
except their great size and thickness, and the great prominence of the 
supraciliary ridges. The teeth were worn down to a smooth and even 
surface. The next one we opened was a stone mound. On clearing off 
the top of this we came upon a stone wall inclosing an area about eight 
feet square, with a narrow opening for a doorway or entrance on the 
south side. The wall of this inclosure was about two feet thick; the 
inside was as smooth and compactly built and the corners as correctly 
squared as if constructed by a practical workman. No mortar had been 
used. At a depth of about two feet from the top of the wall we found a 
layer of five skeletons lying with their feet toward the south." * 

Nont: of the other walls examined were so skilfully laid as this one. 
The bones were crumbly, and only a few fragments were preserved by 
coating them well with varnish as quickly as possible after they were 
exposed to the air. One stone enclosure was found full of ashes, char- 
coal and burnt human bones, and the stones and earth of which the 
mound was composed all showed the effects of fire. Hence it is pre- 
sumed that this was either a cremation furnace or else an altar for human 
sacrifices — most probably the latter. Some fragments of pottery were 
found in the vicinity. 

L. C. Beck in 1823f reported some remains in the territory now con- 
stituting Crawford county, Missouri, which he thought showed that there 

* Smithsonian Report, 1877, p. 252. 

f Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri, published by L. C. Beck, in 1820-28. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 13 

was in old time a town there, with streets, squares, and houses built with 
stone foundations and mud walls. He also mentions the ruins of an 
ancient stone building described to him by Gen. Ashley, as situated on a 
high cliff on the west side of the Gasconade river. And another one said to 
be in Pike county, is thus described: " It presents the dilapidated remains 
of a building constructed of rough, unhewn stones, fifty-six feet long and 
twenty-two broad, embracing several divisions and chambers. The 
walls are from two to five feet high. Eighty rods eastward of this 
structure is found a smaller one of similar construction. The narrow 
apartments are said to be arched with stone, one course overlapping the 
other, after the manner of the edilices of Central America." 

I. Dille, Esq., of Newark, Ohio, reported that he had examined some 
of these pre-historic town ruins, in the vicinity of Mine-la-Motte and 
Fredericktown, in Madison county, Missouri. He speaks of them as 
groups of small tumuli, and says: "I have concluded the}' are the 
remains of mud houses. They are always arranged in straight lines, 
with broad streets intervening between them, crossing each other at right 
angles. The distance apart varies in different groups, but it is always 
uniform in the same group. * I have counted upwards of 

two hundred of these mounds in a single group. Arrow heads of jasper 
and agate, and axes of sienite and porphyry have been found in their 
vicinity." * 

Mounds or other pre-historic structures have been found on Spencer's- 
creek in Ralls count)-; on Cedar creek in Boone county; on Crow's Fork 
and other places in Callaway count)-; near Berger Station in Franklin 
county; near Miami in Saline county; on Blackwater river in John- 
son county; on Salt river in Pike county; on Prairie Fork in Mont- 
gomery county; near New Madrid; and in many other parts of the 
State. 

The class of ancient ruins, partly built of stone, said to exist in 
Clay, Crawford, Pike and Gasconade counties, Missouri, are not found 
further north, but are frequent enough further south, and are supposed 
to indicate a transitional period in the development of architectural 
knowledge and skill, from the grotesque earth-mounds of Wisconsin to 
the well-finished adobe structures of New Mexico, and the grander stone 
ruins of Yucatan. But, no matter what theory we adopt with regard to 
these pre-historic relics, the present citizens of Missouri can rest assured 
that a different race of human beings lived and flourished all over this 
region of country, hundreds — yes, thousands of years ago, and that they 
were markedly different in their modes of life from our modern Indians. 

* Many large and costly works have been published by scientists, devoted to the general 
subject of Pre-Historic Man; but of cheap and popular works for the general reader, the 
best are Poster's " Pre-Historic Races of the United States" ; and Baldwin's " Ancient 
America". 



14 HISTORY OF' THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

And there are at least two discoveries known which show that these people 
were here before the extinction of the mastodon, or great American 
elephant. In the " Transactions of the St. Louis Academy of Sciences," 
1857, Dr. Kock reports that in the year 1839 he dug up in Gasconade 
county [as that county then was] the bones of a mastodon, near the 
Bourbeuse river. The skeleton of this gigantic creature was buried in 
such a position as to show that it had got its hind legs down in a bog so 
deeply that it could not climb out, although its fore feet were on dry 
ground. The natives had attacked it with their flint arrows and spears, 
most of which were found in a broken condition; but they had finally 
managed to build a big fire so close to its head as to burn it to death, the 
head-bones and tusks being found all burnt to coals. The account of 
this discovery was first printed in the Philadelphia Presbyterian, Jan. 12, 
1839, and copied into the "American Journal of Science " the same year. 
The authenticity of the incident has been disputed, on the assumed 
ground that man did not exist as long ago as when the mastodon roamed 
over these pre-historic plains ; but science now has indisputable evidence 
that man existed even in the Tertiary age of the geological scale, (see 
note to chart in chapter on Geology) long before the glacial epoch; hence 
that objection has no force at present. 

Dr. Koch further reports that about a year after unearthing the Gas- 
conade county monster, he again found in the bottom land of the Pom- 
me-de-Terre river, in Benton county, a nearly complete skeleton of the 
great extinct beast called Missourium, with arrow-heads under it in such 
a way as to show beyond question that they were made and used while 
the animal was alive. This skeleton is now in the British Museum. * 

Human footprints have been found in the rocks at De Soto in Jefferson 
county, also in Gasconade county, and at St. Louis. H. R. Schoolcraft, 
in his book of travels in the Mississippi river country in 1821, said of 
these footprints: "The impressions in the stone are, to all appearance, 
those of a man standing in an erect posture, with the left foot a little 
advanced, and the heels drawn in. The distance between the heels, by 
accurate measurement, is 6^ inches and between the extremities of the 
toes 13^ inches. The length of these tracks is 10 J inches; across the 
toes 4£ inches as spread out, and but 2£ at the heel." 

Our eminent U. S. Senator, Thomas H. Benton, wrote a letter April 
29th, 1822, in which he says: "The prints of the human feet which you 
mention, I have seen hundreds of times. They were on the uncovered 
limestone rock in front of the town of St. Louis. The prints were seen 
when the country was first settled, and had the same appearance then as 
now. No tradition can tell anything about them. They look as old 
as the rock. They have the same fine polish which the attrition of the 

* Bee Foster's " Pre-Historic Races of the United States," pp. 6^-3-4-5-6. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 15 

sand and water has made upon the rest of the rock which is exposed to 
their action. I have examined them often with great attention. They 
are not handsome, but exquisitely natural, both in the form and position. 
* * A block 6 or 8 feet long and%5 or 4 feet wide, containing the 
prints, was cut out by Mr. John Jones, in St. Louis, and sold to Mr. 
Rappe, of New Harmony, Indiana."* 

Prof. G. C. Broadhead, and some other writers, think these were not 
natural impression of human feet, but sculptures made by hand. This 
theory requires a belief that the pre-historic men of Missouri had tools 
with which they could cut the most delicate lines in hard rocks; and that 
they studied the human form in its finest details of muscular action and 
attitude, and had the art of sculpturing these things so as to look " exqui- 
sitely natural" as Col. Benton expresses it — thus rivalling, if not excelling 
the most famous sculptors of ancient Greece; all of which is wholly incon- 
sistent with the known facts. And besides this, there is no better geolog- 
ical reason for doubting their genuineness as natural footprints, than there 
is in the case of the famous bird and reptile tracks in the sandstones of 
Connecticut, or those found by Prof. Mudge in Kansas, in 1873. There 
is no valid reason, either of an aesthetic, historical, or scientific nature, for 
pronouncing them anything but just what they show themselves to be — 
fossil footprints of a man who stood in the mud barefooted ; and in course 
of time that mud became solid stone, preserving his footprints just as he 
left their exact impression in the plastic material. 



THE WHITE RACE IN MISSOURI. 



8PANISH AND FRENCH DISCOVERERS. 

In 1512 the Spanish adventurer Ponce de Leon discovered Florida; and 
at this time and for some years after the old countries of Europe were filled 
with the wildest and most extravagant stories about the inexhaustible mines 
of gold, silver and precious stones that existed in the country north of the 
Gulf of Mexico ; also of great and populous cities containing fabulous wealth, 
beyond what Pizarro and Cortes had found in Peru and Mexico. And 
besides all this, the "fountain of perpetual youth," which all Europe had gone 
crazy after, about this time, was supposed to be in that region. Indeed, 
it can hardly be doubted that the Spaniards in Mexico had gathered from 
the natives some inkling of the wonderful healing waters now known as 

* See Smithsonian Report, 1879, pp. 357-58. Also " American Antiquities," by Josian 
Priest, 1833, pp. 1850-51-52. 



16 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the brilliant quartz crystals found in that 
region, as well as the glittering ores of Missiouri. 

Ferdinand de Soto was a wealthy cavalier who had won fame as a 
leading commander in Pizarro's conquest of Peru; he imbibed deeply the 
current imaginings about the undiscovered wonders of the new world, 
and was eager to immortalize his name by bringing to his king and coun- 
try the glory of still more important conquests and discoveries; and he 
especially desired to find the supposed " fountain of perpetual youth." 
Accordingly, in 1538 he received permission from the king of Spain to 
conquer Florida at his own cost — " Florida " then meaning all the 
unknown country from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northern ocean. He 
collected a band of more than six hundred young bloods who were able 
to equip themselves in all the gorgeous trappings and splendor of a Span- 
ish cavalier dress parade, and with this plumed and tinselled troupe, very 
like the grand entree riders of a modern circus, he landed in Tampa Bay, 
Florida, in 1539. From here he boldly struck out into the interior, wan- 
dering about and pushing forward with dogged perseverance, in spite of 
bogs and streams and bluffs; in spite of tangling thickets and dense for- 
ests; in spite of heats and rains; in spite of the determined hostility of 
the natives — until in May, 1541, he discovered the Great River, a few 
miles below where the city of Memphis now stands; and thus he made 
his name memorable for all time. After some delay, to construct boats, 
they crossed the river and pushed on northward as far as where the city of 
New Madrid now stands ; and this was the first time that the eyes of white 
men looked upon any portion of the soil now comprised within the State 
of Missouri.* But, so fruitless was this visit that no white man set foot 
within our present State boundary again until one hundred and thirty-two 
years afterward, when the French missionaries, Marquette and Jcliet, 
came from the great lakes down the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, to 
the mouth of the Missouri, in June, 1673. This was the first time white 
men had beheld the waters of this great stream, and they named it Peki- 
tonom, or " Muddy Water River ". It was known by this name until 
about 1710 or 1712, when it began to be called " the river of the Mis- 
souris," referring to a tribe of Indians that dwelt at its mouth, chiefly on 
the lands now comprised in St. Louis county. Marquette and Joliet went 
on down the river as far south as the mouth of the Arkansas river, of course 
making several camping stops on Missouri soil, and discovering the Ohio 
river. From the Arkansas they returned northward the same way they 

* De Soto and his army came into Missoari Irom the south, twice crossing the Ozark 
mountains. He spent the winter of 1541-42 in Vernon county, in the extreme western 
part of the State. Ruins of their winter camp structures and smelting operations are still 
found there. They melted lead ore for silver, and the glittering, lustrous, yellow, zinc 
blende or Smithsonite for gold ; but were deeply disgusted to find at last that they had 
been handling only the basest metals. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 17 

came down, and reached Green Bay, Wisconsin, again in September of 
that year — 1673. 

The next visit of white men to this State was in 1682. In 1678 the 
French had built a fort with a missionary station a:id trading post, near 
where the city of Peoria, Ills., now stands. During the winter of 1681 
-82, Robert de la Salle made preparations, first in Canada, and then at 
this Illinois fort, to explore the Mississippi river to its mouth. He left the 
fort with a company of' twenty Frenchmen, eighteen Indian men and ten 
squaws, in such boats and canoes as he could provide. They rowed down 
the Illinois river and reached its mouth on the 6th of February; a few 
days were spent here making observations, repairing boats, preparing 
food, and establishing signals that they had been there and taken posses- 
sion of the land in the name of their great king. By February 13th La Salle 
was ready to push on, and started with his little fleet to solve the great 
mystery of a navigable waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. Of course this 
expedition passed along the eastern border of Missouri, but no points are 
mentioned to identify any landing which they may have made within our 
State. Early in April La Salle accomplished the grand object of his ven- 
ture by discovering the. three principal mouths of the Mississippi; and on 
the nearest firm dry land he could find from the mouth he set up a col- 
umn bearing the cross and the royal arms of France, while the whole 
company performed the military and religious rites of loyalty to their 
king and country — and La Salle himself, acting as chief master of cere- 
monies, in a clear, loud voice proclaimed that he took possession of all 
the country between the great gulf and the frozen ocean, "in the name of 
the most high, mighty and victorious prince, Louis the Great, by the 
grace of God king of France and Navarre, 14th of the name, this 9th day 
of April, 1682." In honor of his sovereign he named the whole vast 
region Louisiana — that is, Louis' land, and named the river itself St. 
Louis. And thus it was that our State of Missouri first became a part 
of historic Louisiana, and passed under the nominal ownership and 
authority of France. 

The next historic appearance of white men within our State was in 
1705. The French settlers in this vast new country had kept themselves 
entirely on the east side of the Mississippi river; but during this year 
they sent an exploring party up the Missouri river in search of gold ; it 
prospected as far as the mouth of the Kansas river, where Kansas City 
now stands, without finding anything valuable, and returned disheartened 
and disgusted. On September 14, 1712, the king of France, Louis XIV, 
gave to a wealthy French merchant named Anthony Crozat, a royal patent 
of " all the country drained by the waters emptying directly or indirectly 
into the Mississippi, which is all included in the boundaries of Louisiana." 
Crozat appointed his business partner, M. de la Motte, governor, and he 
2 



18 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

arrived in 1713; Kaskaskia,. Illinois, was then the provincial headquarters, 
and source of supplies for Upper Louisiana, which was also sometimes 
called Illinois; but New Orleans was the nominal seat of government for 
the whole Louisiana territory. The old town of Mine-la-Motte, in Mad- 
ison county, commemorates this first governor. Crozat expected to find 
inexhaustible mines of gold and silver in this territory, and spent immense 
sums of money in vain efforts to attain his object. Practical miners were 
sent every where that the natives reported any glittering substance to exist. 
The explorers found iron, zinc, copper, lead, mica, pyrites, quartz crystals, 
etc., in great abundance, but no gold, silver or diamonds; and after five 
years of disastrous failure and disappointment, in 1717, Crozat returned his 
luckless charter to the king. 

Next, in 1716 an adventurous Scotchman named John Law, got up a 
grand scheme for making everybody rich without work, and induced the 
French king and court and people to engage in it. This wild financial 
venture is known in history as the " Mississippi bubble," the " South Sea 
bubble," etc. The charter of Louisiana and monopoly of all its trade was 
given to a corporation, called the " Company of the West," whose cap- 
ital stock was to be 100,000,000 francs, with power to issue stock in small 
shares, and establish a bank, etc. Shares rose to twenty times their 
original value, and the bank's notes, though essentially worthless, were 
in circulation to the amount of more than $200,000,000. Law himself 
sunk $500,000 in the scheme; but it bursted, as bodiless as a bag of wind; 
while he, the originator and manager of it, had to escape from Paris for 
his life, and died poor at Venice in 1729. In 1731 the charter of Louis- 
iana was again returned to the crown. However, the excitement over 
this great scheme for making fabulous wealth out of nothing, had 
brought many adventurous Frenchmen into the territory as gold-hunters, 
who failing in that, worked some of the lead mines, and sent their pro- 
ducts back to Europe. 

In 1720 or 1721, an enterprising Frenchman named Renault took 
charge of a large lead mining enterprise. He brought M. La Motte, 
who was a professional mineralogist, with about two hundred expert 
miners and metallurgists, and five hundred negroes, to develop the mineral 
wealth that actually did exist. He made his headquarters at Fort de Char- 
tres, on the Illinois side, ten miles above St. Genevieve, and sent out explor- 
ing and working parties to locate mining camps west of the Great River. 
Mine-la-Motte, in Madison county, was one of the first of these loca- 
tions; also Potosi and Old Mine in Washington county; and many 
others. In 1765 a few families located at Potosi. Much of the mining 
was surface work — hence, scattered and transitory; and their smelting 
operations were merely to melt the ore in a wood fire and then clear away 
the ashes and gather up the lumps of lead. This was carried to 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 19 

the river on pack-horses or on rude ox-carts, and thence shipped to New 
Orleans by fleets of drifting keel-boats, which returned laden with for- 
eign goods. Many of the immigrants of this period also engaged in 
agriculture, especially in Illinois, so that there really began to be a settled 
occupation of the country, as a final outcome of the greatest speculative 
delusion known to history. Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World says: 
u Fort Orleans, near where Jefferson City now stands, was built by the 
French in 1719"; this was a temporary safeguard for John Law's crazy 
gold-hunters, but did not make a permanent settlement. Kaskaskia, now 
in Randolph county, Ills., was settled by the French in 1673, and was 
for about a century the metropolis of the vast territory sometimes called 
"Upper Louisiana," sometimes "Illinois," and sometimes the "Northwestern 
Territory." And in 1735 some emigrants from Kaskaskia, moved across 
the Great River and made a settlement at what is now St. Genevieve, 
Missouri, which was the first permanent white settlement made and 
maintained within the State; the previous adventurers in search of min- 
eral wealth had located mining camps at several points, but had not 
established any permanent town or trading post. 

The next settlement that can be historically traced to its origin was 
that of St. Louis. A Frenchman named Pierre Liguest Laclede,* who 
lived in New Orleans in 1762, organized the "Louisiana Fur Company," 
under a charter from the director-general of the province of Louisiana; 
this charter gave them the exclusive right to carry on the fur trade with 
the Indians bordering on the Missouri river, and west of the Mississippi, 
*' as far north as the river St. Peter" (the same that is now called the Min- 
nesota river, and empties into the Mississippi at Fort Snelling). Laclede 
seems to have formed a definite plan and purpose to establish a permanent 
trading post at some point in Upper Louisiana, for he made up a company 
of professional trappers, hunters, mechanics, laborers, and boatmen, and 
with a supply of goods suitable for the Indian trade, they left New 
Orleans in August, 1763, bound for the mouth of the Missouri river. 
The manner of navigating these boats against the current of the Missis- 
sippi for a distance of 1,194 miles, was of the most rude, primitive and 
laborious sort. Sometimes when the wind was favorable they could sail 
a little; but the main dependence was by means of push-poles and tow- 
ropes. The boats were long and narrow, with a plank projecting six or 
eight inches on each side. The boat would of course keep near the shore; 
a man at each side, near the bow of the boat, would set his pole on the 
river bottom, then brace his shoulder against the top of the pole with 

* Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri says this man's family name was Liguest; B. 
Gratz Brown gives it in Johnson's Cyclopedia as Lingueste; but the man himself appears 
to have written his name Laclede, of the firm of Laclede, Moxan & Co., who constituted 
the historic "Louisiana Fur Company." 



20 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

all his might, and as the boat moved under him he would walk along 
the narrow plank until he reached the stern, and the boat had thus been 
propelled forward the distance of its length ; then he would walk back 
to the bow, dragging his pole along in the water, set it on the bottom 
and push again as before. And thus it was that the rugged pioneers of 
civilization in the new world for more that a hundred years navigated 
the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and some other rivers, 
with what were in later years called keel-boats. But sometimes, for a 
rest, or when the beach was favorable, a gang of men would go ashore 
with a long rope attached to the boat, and thus tow it along against the 
current, or they would tie the forward end to a tree or snag and let those 
on the boat pull in the rope and thus draw the boat along — meanwhile 
those on shore going ahead with another rope, making another tie — and 
so on; this was called "warping"; but when it was necessary to cross 
the stream they had recourse to oars or paddles. It took Laclede three 
months in this way to get from New Orleans up to St. Genevieve, or 
Fort de Chartres, the military post on the east side a few miles further up 
the river, where he arrived on the third of November. Here he left his 
goods and part of his company, but taking a few picked men, he himself 
pushed on to the mouth of the Missouri. He seems to have had a sort of 
prophetic forecast that this was the right spot to locate the future trading 
post for all that vast region of country which was drained by the two prin- 
cipal great rivers of the new world. At the mouth of the Missouri he 
found no site that suited, him for a town, and he turned back down the 
Mississippi, carefully exploring the west bank until he reached the high, 
well protected and well drained location where the city of St. Louis now 
stands. This was the nearest spot to the mouth of the Missouri which 
at all met his idea, and he began at once to mark the place by chopping 
notches in some of the principal trees. This was in December, 1763. 
He then returned to the fort and pushed on his preparations for the new 
settlement, saying enthusiastically to the officers of the fort that he had 
"found a situation where he was going to plant his colony; and the site 
was so fine, and had so many advantages of position for trade with all 
this region of country, that it might in time become one of the finest cities 
in America." 

Early in February, 1764, a company of thirty men, in charge of 
Auguste Chouteau, set out from Fort de Chartres and arrived at the 
chosen spot on the 14th. The next day all hands went to work clearing 
the ground and building a storehouse for the goods and tools, and cabins 
for their own habitation. In April Laclede himself joined them and pro- 
ceeded to lay out the village plat, select a site for his own residence, and 
name the town Saint Louis, in honor of his supposed sovereign, Louis XV. 
This very territory had been yielded up to Spain in 1762, but these loyal 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 21 

Frenchmen in naming their new town after the French king never 
dreamed that they were then and for nearly two years had been Spanish 
subjects, instead of French; the unwelcome news had reached New 
Orleans in the same month, April, but did not arrive at St. Louis until late 
in the year; and when it came the inhabitants were appropriately wroth 
and indignant, for they hated Spain with a fighting hatred. However, the 
change made very little practical difference to the town or its people. In 
1763 all the French possessions on the east side of the Mississippi river, 
and also Canada, had been ceded to England, but it was late in 1764 
before the English authorities arrived to take possession of Kaskaskia, or 
Fort de Chartres, and other military posts; and when they did come, 
many of the French settlers moved over to St. Louis, giving it a consid- 
erable start, both in population and business. The Indians, too, being 
generally more friendly toward the French than the English, came over 
to St. Louis to trade their peltries, instead of going to Kaskaskia, as they 
had formerly done; and this fact gave the new town a powerful impulse. 
From this time forward new settlements began to spring up within our 
present boundaries. New Bourbon was settled in 1789. In 1762 a 
hunter named Blanchette built a cabin where the city of St. Charles now 
stands, and lived there many years; but just when the place began to be 
a town or village does not appear to be known. However, in 1803, St. 
Charles county was organized, and then comprised all the territory lying 
north of the Missouri and west of the Mississippi; thus taking in all of 
north Missouri, and the entire States of Iowa, Minnesota, Dakota, and on 
west to the Pacific ocean. This was the largest single " county " ever 
known in the world, and St. Charles city was the county seat. 

In 1781 the Delaware Indians had a considerable town where New 
Madrid now stands ; and that year Mr. Curre, a fur trader of St. Louis, 
established a branch house here. In 1788 a colony from New Jersey 
settied here, and laid out a plat for a large city, giving it the name of New 
Madrid, in honor of the capital of Spain. But they never realized their 
high hopes of building up a splendid city there. 

Among the historic incidents of early settlement worthy of mention at 
this point, is the case of Daniel Boone, whose hunter life in Kentucky 
forms a staple part of American pioneer history. Boone came to this 
territory in 1797, renounced his citizenship in the United States, and took 
the oath of allegiance to the Spanish crown. Delassus was then the 
Spanish governor; and he appointed Boone commander of a fort at 
Femme Osage, now in the west part of St. Charles county. He roamed 
and hunted over the central regions of Missouri the rest of his life, and it 
was for a long period called the " Boone's Lick country," from some salt 
licks or springs which he discovered and his sons worked, and which 
were choice hunting grounds because deer and other animals came there 



22 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

to lick salt. Col. Boone died Sept. 26, 1820, in St. Charles county, but 
was buried in Marthasville in Warren county, as was his wife also. 
Their bones were subsequently removed to Frankfort, Kentucky. 

THE AMERICAN PERIOD. 

In 1801 the territory west of the Mississippi was ceded back to France 
by Spain; in 1803 President Jefferson purchased from the French 
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the entire territory of Louisiana, for $15,- 
000,000; the formal transfer was made at New Orleans, December 20, 
1803. On the 26th of March, 1804, Congress passed an act dividing this 
vast accession into two parts, the lower one being named the "Terri- 
tory of Orleans," with its capital at New Orleans ; the upper division 
was called the " District of Louisiana," with its capital at St. Louis. 
This latter district comprised the present State of Arkansas and all from 
that north to nearly the north line of Minnesota, and west trom the Mis- 
sissippi river to the Rocky Mountains. Don Carlos Dehault Delassus 
had been the last Spanish governor at St. Louis, and no change was 
made after its re-cession to France, until in March, 1804, when he delivered 
the keys and the public documents of his governorship to Capt. Amos 
Stoddard, of the United States army, who immediately raised the first 
American flag that ever floated west of the Mississippi river, over the 
government buildings at St. Louis. There it has floated proudly and 
uninterruptedly ever since, and there it will float until St. Louis becomes 
the central metropolis and seat of empire of the entire North American 
continent. 

It should be mentioned here that the war of the American Revolution 
did not involve any military operations as far west as the Mississippi river; 
hence the little French fur-trading village of St. Louis was not affected 
by the clash of arms which was raging so desperately through all the 
States east of the Ohio river. But the success of the colonies in this 
unequal conflict gave them control of all south of the river St. Lawrence 
and the great lakes, as far west as the Mississippi river; and when Napo- 
leon had sold to the new republic the extensive French possessions west 
of the Mississippi, he remarked that this accession of territory and con- 
trol of both banks of the Mississippi river would forever strengthen the 
power of the United States; and said he, with keen satisfaction, "I have 
given England a maritime rival that will sooner or later humble her 
pride." 

On the 3d of March, 1805, Congress passed at act to organize the 
Territory of Louisiana; and President Jefferson then appointed as territo- 
rial governor, Gen. James Wilkinson; secretary, Frederick Bates; judges, 
Return J. Meigs and John B. Lucas. Thus civil matters went on, 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 23 

and business increased rapidly. When the United States took pos- 
session of this district or territory it was reputed to contain nine thous- 
and white inhabitants and about three thousand negroes. The first cen- 
sus of St. Louis was taken in 1799, and it then had 897 inhabitants. 
This is presumed to have included the village of Carondelet also, which 
was started as a rival town soon after the founding of St. Louis. 

In June, 1812, Congress passed another act with regard to this new 
country, and this time it was named the Territory of Missouri, instead of 
Louisiana. The President was to appoint a governor; the people were 
to elect representatives in the ratio of one for every five hundred white 
male inhabitants; this legislative body or lower house, was to nominate 
to the President eighteen of their own citizens, and from those he was to 
select and commission nine to form a senate or legislative council. The 
house of representatives was to consist of thirteen members at first; they 
were to hold their office two years, and must hold at least one legislative 
session at Saint Louis each year. The territory was also authorized to 
send one delegate to Congress. 

In October, 1812, the first territorial election was held, and these peo- 
ple experienced for the first time in their lives the American privilege of 
choosing their own law-makers. There were four candidates for Con- 
gress, and Edward Hempstead was elected. He served two years from 
December 7th, 1812; then Rufus Easton served two years; then John 
Scott two years; Mr. Easton was one of the four candidates at the first 
election ; and Mr. Scott was one of the members from St. Genevieve of 
the first legislative council. The first body of representatives met at the 
house of Joseph Robidoux,in St. Louis, on December 7th, and consisted 
of the following members: 

From St. Charles — John Pitman, Robert Spencer. 

St. Louis — David Musick, B. J. Farrar, Wm. C. Carr, Richard Caulk. 

St. Genevieve — George Bullet, R. S. Thomas, Isaac McGready. 

Cafe Girardeau — G. F. Ballinger, Spencer Byrd. 

New Madrid — John Shrader, Samuel Phillips. 

They were sworn into office by Judge Lucas. Wm. C. Carr of St. 
Louis, was elected speaker. The principal business of this assembly was 
to nominate the eighteen men from whom the President and U. S. Sen- 
ate should select nine to constitute the legislative council; they made their 
nominations and sent them on to Washington, but it was not known until 
the next June who were selected. June 3d, 1813, the secretary and acting 
governor, Frederick Bates, issued a proclamation declaring who had been 
chosen by the President as the council of nine, and the)' - were — 

From St. Charles — James Flaugherty, Benj. Emmons. 

St. Louis — Auguste Chouteau, Sr., Samuel Hammond. 

St. Genevieve — John Scott, James Maxwell. 



24 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

Cafe Girardeau — Wm. Neely, Joseph Cavener. 

New Madrid — Joseph Hunter. 

In July of this year the newly appointed governor, Wm. Clarke, took 
his seat, and held it until Missouri became a State in 1820.* 

December, 1813, the second session of the territorial legislature was 
convened in St. Louis, and continued until January 19, 1814. This year 
the second territorial election occurred, and the new general assembly 
met December 5, this being the third sitting of the territorial legisla- 
ture. The fourth commenced in November, 1S15, and continued until 
about the last of January, 1816. And it was during this session that the 
common law of England, and her general statutes passed prior to the 
fourth year of James I, were adopted as the laws of Missouri, except 
such changes as were necessary to phrase them for the United States 
and its system of government, instead of England. 

April 29, 1816, Congress again legislated for this territory, and pro- 
vided that the legislative council or senate should be elected by the peo- 
ple instead of being appointed by the President; that the legislature 
should meet biennially instead of annually; and that the U. S. judges 
should be required to hold regular terms of circuit court in each county. 
The fifth legislative session (being the first under this act) met the first 
week in December of this year, and continued until February 1, 1817. 
Then there was no further legislation until the regular biennial session 
which met about December first, 1818. But during 1817, Henry S. 
Gayer, Esq., compiled a digest of all the laws, including those of French, 
Spanish, English and American origin, which were still in force in this 
territory. This was a very important work, in view of the fact that 
there were land titles and instances of property inheritance deriving 
their legal verity from these different sources; and it was now desirable 
to get all titles and vestitures clearly set upon an American basis of law 
and equity. The next or sixth session of the legislature continued 
through December, 1818, and January, 1819; and the most important thing 
done was applying to Congress for Missouri to be admitted as a State. 
John Scott, of St. Genevieve county, was then the territorial delegate in 
Congress, and presented the application. A bill was introduced to 
authorize the people of Missouri to elect delegates to a convention which 
should frame a State constitution. The population of Missouri territory 
at this time (or when the first census was taken, in 1821,) consisted 
of 59,393 free white inhabitants and 11,254 slaves. A member of 
Congress from New York, Mr. Talmadge, offered an amendment to the 
proposed bill, providing that slavery should be excluded from the proposed 
new State. This gave rise to hot and angry debate for nearly two 

* Gov. Clarke died Sept. 31, 1838, at St. Louis. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 25 

years, and which at times seemed to threaten an immediate dissolution of 
the National Union. But the strife was finally quieted by the adoption in 
Congress on March 6, 1820, of what is famous in history as the " Mis- 
souri Compromise," by which it was agreed that Missouri might come 
into the Union as a slave-holding State ; but that slavery should never be 
established in any State which might thereafter be formed from lands 
lying north of latitude 36 deg. 30 min. The elections were held for dele- 
gates, the constitutional convention met at St. Louis, accepted the terms 
of admission prescribed by Congress, and on July 19th, 1820, Missouri 
took her place as one of the sovereign States of the National Union. 



MISSOURI AS A STATE. 



July 19, 1820, Missouri laid off the vestments of territorial tutelage and 
put on the matronly robes of mature statehood, as the constitutional conven- 
tion was authorized to frame the organic law and give it immediate force 
without submitting it to a vote of the people, and this constitution stood 
in force without any material change until the free State constitution of 
1865 was adopted. The first general election under the constitution was 
held in August, 1820, at which time Alexander McNair was chosed gov- 
ernor and John Scott representative in Congress. Members of legisla- 
ture had been chosen at the same time, comprising fourteen senators and 
forty three representatives; and this first general assembly of the State 
convened in St. Louis in the latter part of September. The principal 
thing of historic interest done by this assembly was the election to the 
United States Senate of Thomas H. Benton, who continued there unin- 
terruptedly until 1851, a period of thirty years, and was then elected in 
1852 as representative in Congress from the St. Louis district. The 
other senator elected at this time was David Barton, who drew the "short 
term," and was re-elected in 1824. 

EPITOMIZED SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND DATES. 

Application made to Congress for a state government March 16, 
1818, and December 18, 1818. — A bill to admit was defeated in Congress, 
which was introduced February 15, 1819. — Application made to Congress 
for an enabling act, December 29, 1819. — Enabling act (known as the 
Missouri Compromise} passed by Congress March 6, 1820. — First state 
constitution formed July 19, 1820. — Resolution to admit as a state passed 
Senate December 12, 1820; rejected by the House February 14, 1821. — 



26 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



Conditional resolution to admit approved March 2, 1821. — Condition 
accepted by the legislature of Missouri and approved by governor, June 
26, 1821. — By proclamation of the President, admitted as a state August 
10, 1821. 

The State capital was first at St. Louis; then at St. Charles about five 
years; but on October 1st, 1826, it was moved to Jefferson City, and 
has remained there ever since. 

COUNTIES AND POPULATION. 

The first census of the State was taken in September, 1821, and showed 
the population by counties as follows: 



Boone county 3,692 

Calloway 1,797 

Cape Girardeau 7,852 

Chariton 1,426 

Cole 1,028 

Cooper 3,483 

Franklin 1,928 

Gasconade 1,174 

Howard 7,321 

Jefferson 1,838 

Lillard (afterward called La- 
fayette)... v 1,340 

Lincoln 1,674 



Marion 1,907 

Montgomery 2,032 

New Madrid 2,444 

Perry 1,599 

Pike 2,677 

Ralls 1,684 

Ray 1,789* 

Saline 1,176 

St. Charles 4,058 

St. Genevieve 3,181 

St. Louis 8,190- 

Washington 3,741 

Wayne 1,614 



The total was 70,647, of which mumber 11,254 were negro slaves. 
The area of the State at this time comprised 62,182 square miles; but in 
1837 the western boundary was extended by authority of Congress, to 
include what was called the " Platte Purchase," an additional area of 
3,168 square miles, which is now divided into the counties of Platte, 
Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Nodaway and Atchison. This territory was 
an Indian reservation until 1836. 

The last census was taken in June, 1880, when the state had an area of 
65,350 square miles, divided into one hundred and fourteen counties, with 
populations as follows: 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 27 

CENSUS REPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE YEAR 1880. 

Counties. Total. 

Adair 15,190 

Andrew 16.318 

Atchison 14,565 

Audrain 19.739 

Barry 14,424 

Barton 10,332 

Bates 25,382 

Benton: 12,398 

Bollinger 11,132 

Boone 25.424 

Buchanan 49,824 

Butler '. 6,011 

Coldwell 13,654 

Calloway 23,670 

Camden 7,267 

Cape Girardeau 20,998 

Carrroll 23,300 

Carter 2,168 

Cass 22.431 

Cedar 10,747 

Chariton 25,224 

Christian 9,632 

Clark 15,031 

Clay 15.579 

Clinton 16.073 

Cole 15,519 

Cooper 21.622 

Crawford 10,763 

Dade 12.557 

Dallas 9,272 

Daviess 1 9,174 

DeKalb 13,343 

Dent 10.647 

Douglass 7,753 

Dunklin 9,604 

Franklin 26.536 

Gasconade 11,153 

Gentry 17,188 

Greene 28,817 

Grundy 15,201 

Harrison 20.318 

Henry 23,914 

Hickory 7.388 

Holt 15.510 

Howard 18,428 

Howell 8,814 

Iron 8.183 

Jackson 82.328 

Jasper 32,021 

Jefferson 18,736 

Johnson 28 177 

Knox 13^047 

Laclede 11,524 

Lafayette 25,731 

Lawrence 17,585 

Lewis 15,925 

Lincoln 17.443 

Linn 20016 

Livingston 20,205 

McDonald 7,816 

Macon. ..." 26,223 

Madison 8,860 

Maries 7.304 

Marion 24,837 



Male. 


Female. 


Native. 


Foreign. 


Wh'te. 


Cord. 


7,915 


7,275 


14,719 


471 


14.964 


226 


8,387 


7,931 


15,432 


880 


15.950 


368 


7,936 


6,629 


13,538 


1,027 


14.524 


41 


10,417 


9,322 


18,982 


757 


17,896 


1,843 


7,311 


7.113 


13,975 


449 


14.413 


11 


5,425 


4.907 


10,086 


240 


10.316 


16 


13,630 


11,752 


24,674 


708 


25,135 


247 


6,357 


6.041 


11,438 


960 


12,127 


271 


5,698 


5434 


10.766 


366 


11,108 


24 


12,928 


12,496 


25,084 


340 


20,397 


5,027 


27,045 


22,779 


42,920 


6,904 


46,093 


3,731 


3.221 


2,790 


5,848 


103 


5,871 


140 


7,060 


6,594 


13,023 


631 


13,241 


413 


12,280 


11,390 


23.064 


600 


19,268 


4,402 


3,756 


3.511 


7,166 


101 


7,152 


115 


10,812 


10 186 


18,612 


2,386 


19.004 


1,994 


12,298 


11,002 


22,359 


941 


21.827 


1,473 


1,138 


1,030 


2,154 


14 


2.157 


11 


11,884 


10.547 


21,830 


601 


21,681 


750 


5,479 


5,268 


10,659 


88 


10,601 


146 


13,145 


12,079 


23,916 


1,308 


21,266 


3,958 


4.871 


4,761 


9,425 


207 


9,435 


197 


7,717 


7,314 


14.283 


748 


14,723 


308 


8,138 


7,441 


15,136 


443 


14.066 


1,513 


8.310 


7 763 


15,375 


698 


15,098 


975 


8,437 


7,082 


13,369 


2,150 


13.648 


1,871 


11.085 


10,537 


20.057 


1,565 


18,120 


3,502 


5.586 


5177 


10,197 


566 


10,640 


123 


6.415 


6.142 


12,463 


94 


12,310 


247 


4,671 


4,601 


9,189 


83 


9,184 


88 


9.983 


9,191 


18,794 


380 


18,723 


451 


7,008 


6,335 


12.723 


620 


13216 


127 


5,635 


5,012 


10.365 


282 


10,580 


61 


3.891 


3,862 


7,732 


21 


7.727 


26 


5,161 


4.443 


9.569 


35 


9,436 


168 


13.885 


12.651 


22,101 


4,435 


24,469 


2,067 


5,824 


5,329 


8,435 


2,718 


10,988 


165 


8,947 


8,241 


16,712 


476 


17,160 


28 


14.649 


14,168 


28,010 


807 


26,009 


2,808 


7.762 


7.439 


14,662 


539 


14,997 


204 


10,518 


9,800 


19.824 


494 


20,245 


73 


12.301 


11,613 


23.096 


818 


22.925 


989 


3,775 


3.613 


7,169 


219 


7,338 


50 


8,291 


7,219 


14.621 


889 


15,285 


225 


9,554 


8.874 


17,955 


473 


13,195 


5,233 


4495 


4.319 


8,736 


78 


8,723 


91 


4,232 


3,951 


7,592 


591 


7,783 


400 


45,891 


36,437 


71,653 


10,675 


72,445 


9,883 


16.763 


15,258 


30,686 


1,335 


31.249 


772 


9,873 


8,863 


15,755 


2,981 


17,731 


1,005 


14,797 


13,380 


27.231 


946 


26.164 


2,013 


6,774 


6.273 


12,341 


7TX5 


12,819 


228 


5,889 


5,635 


11,145 


379 


11,048 


476 


13.370 


12,361 


23,679 


2.052 


21,313 


4,418 


8,990 


8,595 


16,835 


750 


17,284 


301 


8.157 


7,768 


15,080 


845 


14,520 


1,405 


9,010 


8,433 


16.606 


837 


15,299 


2,144 


10,349 


9,667 


18,823 


1,193 


19,184 


832 


10,365 


9,840 


18,952 


1,253 


19,062 


1,143 


4.101 


3,715 


7,777 


39 


7,804 


12 


13,449 


12,774 


24,383 


1,840 


24,726 


1,497 


4463 


4,397 


8,506 


354 


8,552 


308 


3,806 


3,498 


6,974 


330 


7,292 


12 


12,622 


12,215 


22,828 


2,009 


21,123 


3,714 



.28 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



CENSUS REPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE YEAR 1880.— Continued. 



Counties. Total. 

Mercer 14,674 

Miller 9,807 

Mississippi 9,270 

Moniteau 14,349 

Monroe 19,075 

Montgomery .- 16,250 

Morgan 10,134 

New Madrid 7,694 

Newton 18,948 

Nodaway 29,560 

Oregon 5,791 

Osage 11,824 

Ozark 5,618 

Pemiscot 4,299 

Perry 11,895 

Pettis 27,285 

Phelps 12,565 

Pike 26,716 

Platte 17,372 

Polk 15,745 

Pulaski 7,250 

Putnam 13,556 

Ralls 11,838 

Randolph ■ 22,751 

Ray 20,193 

Reynolds 5,722 

Ripley 5,377 

St. Charles 23,060 

St. Clair 14,126 

St. Francois 13,822 

St. Genevieve 10,390 

St. Louis 31,888 

Saint Louis (City) 350,522 

Saline 29,912 

Schuyler 10,470 

Scotland 12,507 

Scott 8,587 

Shannon 3,441 

Shelby 14,024 

Stoddard . . . . : 13,432 

Stone 4,405 

Sullivan 16,569 

Taney 5,605 

Texas 12,207 

Vernon 19,370 

Warren 10,806 

Washington 12,895 

Wayne 9,097 

Webster. 12,175 

Worth 8,208 

Wright 9,733 



Male. Female. Native. Foreign. White. Col'd. 



7,510 
5,070 
5,131 
7,257 
9,942 
8,383 
5,182 
4,145 
9,767 

15,669 
2,995 
6,201 
2,920 
2,300 
6,120 

14,150 
6,478 

13,645 
9,055 
7,886 
3,719 
6,953 
6,162 

11,830 

10,637 
2,901 
2,803 

12,097 
7,243 
7,246 
5,338 

16,988 
179,484 

15,619 
5.334 
6,398 
4,631 
1,742 
7,126 
6,924 
2,327 
8,589 
2,900 
6,223 

10,184 
5,743 
6,457 
4,764 
6,201 
4,220 
4,903 



7,164 
4,737 
4,139 
7,092 
9,133 
7,867 
4,952 
3,549 
9,181 

13,891 
2,796 
5,623 
2,698 
1,999 
5,775 

13,135 
6,087 

13,071 
8,317 
7,859 
3,531 
6,603 
5,676 

10,921 
9,556 
2,821 
2,574 

10,963 

• 6,883 

6,576 

5,052 

14,900 
171,038 

14,293 
5,136 
6,109 
3,956 
1,699 
6,898 
6,508 
2,078 
7,980 
2,705 
5,984 
9,186 
5,063 
6,438 
4,333 
5,974 
3,988 
4,830 



14,486 


188 


14,573 


101 


9,561 


246 


9,577 


230 


9.020 


250 


7,129 


2,141 


13,177 


1,172 


13,376 


973 


18,739 


336 


16,925 


2,150 


15,304 


946 


14,334 


1,916 


7,399 


735 


9,719 


415 


7,587 


107 


5,813 


1,881 


18,324 


624 


18,345 


603 


27,936 


1,624 


29,447 


113 


5,772 


19 


5,772 


19 


9,848 


1,976 


11,422 


402 


5,602 


16 


5,604 


14 


4,267 


32 


4,033 


266 


10,588 


1,307 


11,424 


471 


25,428 


1,857 


24,278 


3,007 


11,729 


836 


12,059 


506 


25,888 


828 


21,340 


5,376 


16,645 


727 


15,754 


1,618 


15,649 


96 


15,459 


286 


6,987 


263 


7,190 


60 


13,333 


223 


13,536 


20 


11,452 


386 


10,625 


1,213 


21,302 


1,449 


19,937 


2,814 


19,765 


428 


18,472 


1,721 


5,679 


43 


5,708 


14 


5,277 


100 


5,367 


10 


18,774 


4,286 


20,650 


2,410 


13,839 


287 


13.817 


309 


12,739 


1,083 


13,169 


653 


9,296 


1,094 


9,833 


557 


25,299 


6,589 


28,009 


3,879 


245,528 


104,994 


328,232 


22,290 


28,657 


1,255 


24,987 


4,925 


10,132 


338 


10,461 


9 


12,238 


269 


12,378 


129 


7,972 


615 


8,036 


551 


3,430 


11 


3,441 


— 


13,320 


567 


13,087 


937 


13,320 


112 


13,399 


33 


4,395 


10 


4,377 


28 


16,202 


367 


16,487 


82 


5,586 


19 


5,601 


4 


12,013 


194 


12,178 


29 


18,900 


470 


19,268 


102 


8,917 


1,889 


9,852 


954 


12,478 


417 


11,857 


1,038 


8,925 


172 


8,990 


107 


12,044 


131 


11,928 


247 


8,031 


177 


8,207 


1 


9,559 


174 


9,471 


262 



The classification footings of the census of 1880 show: 



Males.... •• 1,127,424 

Native born 1,957,564 

White 2,023,568 



Females 1,041,380 

Foreign born 211,240 

Colored* 145,236 



Total population in June, 1880, 2,168,804. 



*This includes 92 Chinese, 2 half-Chinese, and 96 Indians and half-breeds. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 29 

The following table shows the population of Missouri at each Federal 
census from 1810 to 1880: 

Tears. White. 

1810 17,227 

1820 55,988 

1830 114,795 

1840 323,888 

1850 592,004 

1860 1,063,489 

1870 1,603,146 

1880 2,023,568 



Free 
Colored. 


Slaves. 


Total Popu- 
lation. 


607 
376 


3,011 
10,222 


20,845 
66,586 


569 
1,574 


25,091 
58,240 


140,455 
383,702 


2,618 

3,572 

118,071 

145,236 


87,422 
114,931 


682,044 
1,182,012 
1,721,295 
2,168,804 



STATE FINANCES. 



THE STATE DEBT. 

The bonded indebtedness of Missouri has various periods to run. The 
following table is compiled from the State Auditor's report for 1879- 
1880, and embodies all state bonds that will become payable from 1882 
to 1897, at 6 per cent interest. 

St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad series $1,361,000 

Cairo & Fulton Railroad 267,000 

North Missouri Railroad 1,694,000 

State Debt proper 439,000 

Pacific Railroad 2,971,000 

Consolidation 2,727,000 

Platte County Railroad 504,000 

State University 201,000 

Northwestern Lunatic Asylum 200,000 

State Bank Stock, refunding 104,000 

State Funding 1,000,000- 

Penitentiary Indemnity 41,000 

Renewal Funding 3,850,000 

School Fund Certificates 900,000 



Total $16,259,000 

In addition to this there are $250,000 of revenue bonds, issued June 1, 
1879; and $3,000,000 bonds issued to the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad 
Company. 

THE STATE INCOME. 

The receipts of the State from all sources during the years 1879 and 
1880 were as follows: 



30 



HISTORY OF "THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



State Revenue Fund $3,024,084.39 

State Interest Fund 2,429,040.71 

State School Fund 335.55 

Swamp Land Indemnity Fund 15,408.05 

Insurance Department Fund 31,096.40 

Executors' and Administrators' Fund 6,790.07 

State School Moneys 241,080.00 

State Seminary Moneys 3,660.00 

Earnings Missouri Penitentiary 214,358.97 

Militia Fund 82.25 

Total $5,965,936.39 

The total balance of all moneys in the State treasury January 1, 1881, 
was $517,517.21. 

During the year 1879, the state paid a total of $6,458.00 as bounty on 
wolf scalps; but in 1880 the amount was only $1,428.50. 



WHO MISSOURI VOTED FOR. 



PRESIDENTIAL VOTES OF MISSOURI FROM 1820 TO 1880. 



Yl .« r Presidential Candidates Political Parties 

* ear - Voted lor in Missouri. comical parties. 

1820 James Monroe Democratic 

1824 John Q. Adams Coalition 

Andrew Jackson Democratic 

Henry Clay Democratic 

1828 Andrew Jackson Democratic 

John Q. Adams National Republican. 

1832 Andrew Jackson* Democratic 

1836 Martin Van Buren Democratic 

W. H. Harrison Whig 

Hugh L. White Independent 

1840 W. H. Harrison Whig 

Martin Van Buren Democratic 

1844 Jas. K. Polk Democratic 

Henry Clay Whig 

1848 Zachary Taylor Whig 

Lewis Cass Democratic 

1852 Franklin Pierce Democratic 

Winfield Scott Whig 

1856 Jas. Buchanan Democratic 

Millard Fillmore American 

1860 Abraham Lincoln Republican 

J. C. Breckenridge State Rights Dem'cr't 

John Bell Old Line Whig 

Stephen A. Douglas . . .Union Democrat 

1864 Abraham Lincoln Republican 

Geo. B. McClcllan Democratic 



dS 


o a 


1 Vice-President 


o O 


H 


\ Candidates. 




3 


D. D. Tompkins. 


311 




Nathan Sanford. 


987 




John C. Calhoun. 


1,401 


3 


Andrew Jackson. 


8,232 


3 


John C. Calhoun. 


3,422 




Richard Rush. 




4 


Martin Van Buren. 


10,995 


4 


R. M. Johnson 


7,401 




Francis Granger. 


936 




John Tyler. 


22,972 




John Tyler. 


29,760 


4 


R. M. Johnson. 


41,369 


7 


Geo. M. Dallas. 


31,251 




Th. Frelinghuysen. 


32,671 




Millard Fillmore. 


40,077 


7 


Wm. O. Butler. 


38,353 


9 


Wm. R. King. 


29,984 




Wm. A. Graham. 


58,164 


9 


J. C. Breckenridge. 


48,524 




A. J. Donelson. 


17,028 




Hannibal Hamlin. 


31,317 




Joseph Lane. 


58,372 




Edward Everett. 


58,801 


9 


H. V. Johnson. 


72,750 


11 


Andrew Johnson. 


31,678 




George H. Pendleton. 



•This year Gen. Jackson received 5,192 majority; -but the popular vote of Missouri for this year does 
not appear in anyef the statistical tables. The other presidential oandidates this year were: Henry 
Clay, National Republican; John Floyd, Independent; Wm. Wirt, Anti-Mason. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



31 



PRESIDENTIAL VOTES OF MISSOURI FROM 1820 TO 1880.— Continued. 



Tear. 
1868 
1872 



1876 



1880 



Presidential Candidates Political Parties g.o> 

Voted for in Missouri. ^P 

Ulysses S. Grant Republican 86,860 

Horatio Seymour Democratic 65,628 

Ulysses S Grant Republican 119,196 

Horace Greeley Dem. and Liberal 151,434 

Chas. O'Connor Democratic 2,429 

Thos. A. Hendricks 

B. Gratz Brown 

David Davis 

Rutherford B. Hayes . . . Republican 145,029 

Samuel J. Tilden Democratic 203,077 

Peter Cooper Greenbacker 3,498 

G. C. Smith Prohibitionist 64 

Scattering 97 

James A. Garfield Republican 153,567 

W. S, Hancock Democratic 203,609 

James B. Weaver Greenback 35,135 



O 1> 

St 

11 



15 



13 



Vice President 
Candidates. 

Schuyler Colfax. 

F. P. Blair, Jr. 
Henry Wilson. 
B. Gratz Brown. 
Geo. W. Julien. 
John M. Palmer. 
T. E. Bramlette. 
Willis B. Machem. 
William. A Wheeler. 
Thomas A. Hendricks. 
Samuel F. Carey. 

G. T. Stewart. 

Chester A Arthur. 
W. H. English. 
B.J. Chambers. 



LIST OF GOVERNORS FROM 1820 TO 1880. 

YEAR. NAME. REMARKS. 

1820 AlexanderMcNair 

1824 Frederick Bates died in office. 

1825 Abraham J. Williams vice Bates. 

1826 John Miller 

1828 John Miller 

1832 Daniel Dunklin resigned; appointed Serv. Gen. U. S. 

1836 Lilburn W. Boggs vice Dunklin. 

1840 Thos. Reynolds died 1844. 

1844 M. M. Marmaduke vice Reynolds. 

1844 John C. Edwards 

1848 Austin A. King- 

1852 Sterling Price 

1856 Trusten Polk resigned. 

1857 Hancock Jackson vice Polk. 

1857 Robert M. Stewart " " [State Convention. 

1860 C. F. Jackson office declared vacant by Unionist 

1861 Hamilton R. Gamble appointed governor by State Conven- 

1864 Willard P. Hall vice Gamble. [tion; died in office. 

1864 Thos. Fletcher 

1868 Joseph W. McClurg 

1870 B. Gratz Brown 

1872 Silas Woodson 

1874 Charles H. Hardin 

1876 John S. Phelps term now 4 years instead of 2. 

1880 Thos. T. Crittenden 



Year. 

1820 
1824 
1826 
1830 
1832 
1833 



LIST OF UNITED STAES SENATORS FROM 1820 TO 1880. 
Names. Year. Names. 



Thomas Hart Benton 

David Barton 

Thomas Hart Benton 

Alexander Buckner died in 1833 

Thomas Hart Benton 

Lewis Field Linn vice Buckner 



1857 Trusten Polk -. 

1861 Waldo Porter Johnson 

1862 Robert Wilson 

1863 B. Gratz Brown 

1863 JohnB. Henderson 

1867 Chas. D. Drake resigned 1870 



32 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



LIST OP UNITED STATES SENATORS FROM 1820 TO 1880.— Continued. 



Tear. Names. 

1836 Lewis Field Linn 

1838 Thomas Hart Benton 

1842 Lewis Field Linn died 1843 

1843 David R. Atchison vice Linn 

1844 David R. Atchison 

1844 Thomas Hart Benton 

1849 David R. Atchison 

1851 Henry S. Geyer 

1857 Jas. S.Green 



Year. Names. 

1869 Carl Schurz .' 

1870 Daniel F. Jewett vice Drake 

1871 Francis P. Blair, Jr 

1873 Lewis V. Bogy 

1875 Francis M. Cockrell 

1879 Daniel H. Armstrong 

1880 James Shields vice Bogy 

1881 George G. Vest 



MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM 1820 TO 1881. 



1820 17 

1822 18 

1824 19 

1826 20 

1828 21 

1830 22 

1831 22 

1832 23 

1834 24 

1836 25 

1838 26 



1838 26 
1840 27 

1842 28 



1844 29 



1846 29 
1846 30 



1848 31 



1850 32 



1852 33 



NAMES. 

John Scott 

John Scott 

John Scott 

Edward Bates 

Spencer Pettis 

Spencer Pettis, died 1831 . . . 
Wm. H. Ashley, vice Pettis. 

Win. H. Ashley 

John Bull 

Wm. H. Ashley 

Albert G. Harrison 

Albert G. Harrison 

John Miller 

Albert G. Harrison, died in 

1839 

John Miller 

J.Jamison, vice Harrison.. 

John Miller 

John C. Edwards 

James M. Hughes 

James H. Relfe 

John Jamisom 

John B. Bowlin 

Gustavus M. Brown 

James B. Bowlin 

James H. Relfe 

Sterling Price, resigned 

John S. Phelps 

Leonard H. Sims 

Wm. McDaniels, vice Price. 

James B. Bowlin 

John Jameson 

James S. Green 

Willard P. Hall 

John S Phelps 

James B. Bowlin 

William V. N. Bay 

James S. Green 

Willard P. Hall 

John S. Phelps 

John F. Darby 

Gilchrist Porter 

John G. Miller 

Willard P Hall 

John S. Phelps 

Thos H. Benton 

Alfred W. Lamb 



1852 33 

1854 34 

1855 34 

1856 34 



1857 35 

1858 36 



1860 36 
1860 37 



1862 37 
1862 38 



§ NAMES. 

a 

3 JohnG.Miller 

4 Mordecai Oliver 

5 John S.Phelps 

James I. Lindley, at large. . 
Samuel Carruthers, at large; 

1 L. M. Kennett 

2 Gilchrist Porter 

3 John I. Linxlley 

4 Mordecai Oliver 

5 John G. Miller, died 1855. . . 

6 John S. Phelps 

7 Samuel Carruthers 

5 Thos. P. Aiken, vice Miller. 

1 Francts P. Blair 

2 T.L.Anderson [1857 

3 Jas. S. Green, elec. U. S. Sen. 

4 James Craig 

5 James H. Woodson 

6 John S. Phelps 

7 Sam'l Carruthers 

3 John B. Clark, vice Green . . 

1 J. Richard Barrett, declared 

not elected 

2 Thos. L. Anderson 

3 John B. Clark 

4 Jas Craig 

5 Jas. H. Woodson 

6 John S. Phelps 

7 JohnW. Noell 

1 Francis P. Blair, Jr., resigned 

1 J. Richard Barrett, vice Blair 

1 Francis P. Blair, Jr 

2 Jas. S. Rollins 

3 John B. Clark, expelled 

4 E. H. Norton 

5 John W. Reid, expelled.... 

6 John S.Phelps 

7 JohnW.Noell 

3 Wm. A. Hall, vice Clark .... 

5 Thos. L. Price, vice Reid . . . 

1 Francis P. Blair 

2 Henry T. Blow 

3 John W. Noell, died 1863. . . 

4 Sempronius S. Boyd 

5 Joseph W. McClurg 

6 Austin A. King 

7 Benjamin F. Loan 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



33 



MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM 1820 TO 1880.— Continued. 



1862 38 



1864 39 



1866 40 



1867 40 

1868 41 



1870 42 



1872 43 



g NAMES. 

Q 

8 W. A. Hall 

9 John S. Rollins 

3 John G. Scott, vice Noell. . . 

1 John Hogan 

2 Henry T. Blow 

3 Thos. E. Noell 

4 John R. Kelsoe 

5 Joseph W. McClurg 

6 Robert T. Van Horn 

7 Benjamin F. Loan 

8 John F. Benjamin 

9 George W. Anderson 

1 William A. Pile 

2 C. A. Newcombe 

3 Thomas E. Noell. deceased . . 

4 J.J. Gravely 

5 Jos. W. McClurg, resigned 

6 Robert T. Van Horn 

7 Benjamin F. Loan 

8 John F. Benjamin 

9 George W. Anderson 

3 J. R. McCormack, vice Noell 

5 John H.Stover,vice McClurg 

1 Erastus Wells 

2 G. A. Finkelnburg 

3 J. R. McCormack 

4 S. H. Boyd 

5 Samuel S. Burdett 

6 Robert T. Van Horn 

7 Joel F. Asper 

8 John F. Benjamin 

9 David P.Dyer 

1 Erastus Wells 

2 G. A. Finkelnburg 

3 J. R. McCormack 

4 H. E. Havens 

5 Samuel S. Burdett. 

6 A. Comingo 

7 Isaac C. Parker 

8 James G. Blair 

9 Andrew King 

1 E. O. Stanard 

2 Erastus Wells 

3 W. H. Stone 

4 Robert A. Hatcher 

5 Richard P. Bland 

6 Harrison E. Havens 

7 Thomas F. Crittenden 

8 Abram Comingo 

9 Isaac C. Parker 

10 Ira B. Hyde 

11 John B.Clark, Jr 

12 John M. Gk>ver 

13 A. H. Buckner 



1874 44 



1876 45 



1878 46 



1879 46 



1880 47 



g NAMES. 

H 

1 Edward C. Kerr 

2 Erastus Wells 

3 William H. Stone 

4 Robert A. Hatcher 

5 Richard P. Bland 

6 Charles H. Morgan 

7 John F. Philips 

8 Benjamin J. Franklin 

9 David Rea 

10 Rezin A. DeBolt 

11 John B. Clark, Jr 

12 John M. Glover 

13 Aylett H. Buckner 

1 Anthony Ittner 

2 Nathan Cole 

3 Lyne S. Metcalfe 

4 Robert H. Hatcher 

5 Richard P. Bland 

6 Charles H. Morgan 

7 Thos. T. Crittenden 

8 Benjamin J. Franklin 

9 David Rea 

10 Henry M. Pollard 

11 Jonn B. Clark, Jr 

12 John M. Glover 

13 Aylett H. Buckner 

1 Martin L. Clardy 

2 Erastus Wells 

3 Richard G. Frost 

4 Lowndes H. Davis 

5 Richard P. Bland 

6 James R. Waddill 

7 Alfred M. Lay, died 

7 John F. Philips, vice Lay. 

8 Samuel L. Sawyer 

9 Nicholas Ford 

10 Gideon F. Rothwell 

11 John B. Clark, Jr 

12 Wm. H- Hatch 

13 Aylett H Buckner 

1 Martin L. Clardy 

2 Thomas Allen 

3 Richard G. Frost 

4 Lowndes H.Davis 

5 Richard P. Bland 

6 Ira S. Hazeltine 

7 Theron M. Rice 

8 Robert >T. Van Horn 

9 Nicholas Ford 

10 J. H. Burroughs 

11 John B. Clark, Jr 

12 Wm. H. Hatch 

13 Aylett H. Buckner 



The election for members of the legislature and members of Congress 
occurs biennially on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 
3 



34 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

the even numbered years — as 1880, 1882, etc.; and the legislature meets 
on the first Wednesday after January 1st, in the odd numbered years — 
as 1881, 1883, etc. The governor is elected every four years, at the same 
time with the presidential election. 



EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. 

The State of Missouri has made liberal provision for the support of 
public schools, equal to any other state in the Union.* The main fea- 
tures of our school system are well epitomized in a report made by the 
state superintendent in 1879, as follows : 

School Revenue — Is derived from invested state funds, bearing inter- 
est at the rate of six per cent per annum, and one-fourth of the state reve- 
nue collections, annually, equal to a tax of five cents on the $100 of valu- 
ation; from the invested county funds at rates from 6 to 10 per centum 
annually, secured by real estate mortgages; from the sixteenth section or 
township fund invested and producing income in the same manner as the 
county funds. 

The state and township permanent funds arise principally from the sale 
of lands donated by the general government. The income is used only 
for teachers' wages, and is apportioned upon the number of children to 
districts having maintained the minimum term of school. 

The deficiency is supplied by local taxation, limited in amount, and con- 
trolled in the first instance by boards of directors, and second, by the 
tax-payers in annual meeting assembled. 

State Boards. — State Board of Education consists of the super- 
intendent of public schools, the governor, secretary of state, and attorney- 
general. The duties, practically, are simply the investment and care of 
the state permanent fund. 

Board of Curators of the State University — Consists of nine 
members, appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, for 
a term of six years, three being appointed every two years. They con- 
trol and manage the university, agricultural college and school of mines 
and metallurgy. 

Boards of Regents — Of normal schools consist of six members 

* The first free day school ever opened in Missouri was by the Church of the Messiah, 
in St. Louis. This church was organized in 1834, by Rev. Wm, G. Elliott, D. D., who waa 
the founder, and is now Chancellor of Washington University. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 35 

to each school, appointed by the governor, with consent of the senate, 
from the locality. The state superintendent of public schools is ex 
officio member of each board. 

Boards of Control — Of other institutions vary in name and num- 
ber of members. They are usually appointed by the governor. 

Superintendent of Public Schools — Has general supervision of 
the public schools; collects and tabulates the school statistics of the state; 
apportions the state school funds to the counties; gives information to 
school officers upon construction of school law ; prepares and furnishes 
blanks for use of school officers ; spends five days in each congressional dis- 
trict of the state, yearly, consulting and advising teachers and other school 
officers, and delivering lectures; is a member of the board of regents of 
the normal schools, and president of state board of education ; receives 
reports from the county commissioners and state institutions of learn- 
ing; makes annual reports to the governor and general assembly alter- 
nately; and is the executive manager of the state school fund under the 
direction of state board of education. 

County School Commissioners — Elected at the annual school meet- 
ings of the various school districts for the term of two years; compen- 
sation varies according to population of county, from twenty to forty 
dollars per annum and a fee, additional, of one and one-half dollars from 
each teacher undergoing examination; examines teachers, grants and 
revokes certificates; has final jurisdiction over appealed cases of changes 
of district boundaries, appealed from the annual meetings; condenses 
and reports to state superintendent of public schools the educational 
statistics of the county, as received by him from the district boards of 
directors; supplies the districts with copies of the law, and all blanks 
needed; performs any and all duties required by the State Superintend- 
ent, and in counties where the people have voted in favor of it, employs 
his whole time in supervision and school work. 

Miscellaneous. — To draw public money, districts must maintain at 
least three months public school in each year, but the law requires and 
provides that four months shall be taught. Any person between the 
ages of six and twenty years may attend the public schools. In cities, 
towns and villages, the boards are authorized to hold from five to ten 
months term of school each year, and in the country districts the people 
may vote an extension of term over four months. The rate of taxation 
for school purposes, in addition to the distributed state, county and town- 
ship, or sixteenth section funds, is limited to forty cents on the $100 valu- 
ation, except that the people, at the annual school meeting, may vote an 
increase not to exeed sixty-five cents on the $100, by a majoritv vote of 
tax-payers. To raise funds by taxation for building purposes, requires 



36 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

that the increased rate be voted by two-thirds of the qualified voters 
voting at the annual or special meeting. 

Annual School Meeting — Meets at the district school house annu- 
ally, and elects a director for a full term, and fills vacancies in tha board; 
determines the length of time in excess of four months, that the schools 
shall be kept open, and orders the proper levies within the limitations to 
be made therefor; votes a sum not exceeding $20 per annum for pur- 
chase of books for district library; decides for or against proposed changes 
of district boundary lines; directs the sale of property no longer required, 
and determines the applications of proceeds; designates their choice for 
county school commissioner every second year; directs the loan of 
money to aid in erecting school houses ; directs the levy of tax for the 
erection of school houses; determines the location of the school house or 
houses; by a two-thirds vote changes location of school house; receives 
the reports of school district board as to financial condition, and itemized 
receipts and disbursements for the year ending. 

District Boards — Consist of three members in the country districts, 
and six members in the city, town and village districts; each elected for 
a term of three years ; one, annually, in the country, and two in the city, 
town and village districts; they elect one of their number president, and 
appoint a clerk who may not be a member of the board, if it so chooses; 
they are the executive officers of the school corporation, which each dis- 
trict is, being created by law ; they serve without compensation ; have 
custody of school property; execute the orders of the annual meeting; 
take the school census; make and file the estimates for tax levies; con- 
trol the disbursements of all school money; keep the district records; 
visit the schools; employ teachers; provide for a four months term of 
school without consulting the people; make rules for organization, gra- 
ding and government of the schools, suspend or expel pupils ; admit and 
prescribe fees for non-resident pupils, and in general do all things neces- 
sary to carry on the schools. 

In city, town and village districts the board has power to establish 
higher grades of schools, but are subject to the same tax restrictions. 

Some cities have special charters giving other privileges than those 
enumerated, but subject to the same tax restrictions, they being constitu- 
tional provisions. 

Educational Directory. — University of Missouri, located at Colum- 
bia; number of students, 577; legislative appropriation for 1S79 and 1880, 
$39,000. State Agricultural College constitutes a department of the 
University. Three State Normal Schools, located respectively at Kirks- 
ville, Warrensburg and Cape Girardeau .* The appropriation to each of 

* St. Louis supports its own normal school, for the preparation and training of its 
teachers, the greater number of whom are graduates of this normal school. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 37 

normal schools is $7,500 per annum. Deaf and Dumb Asylum, located 
at Fulton; legislative appropriation for 1S79 and 1SS0, $91,000. Blind 
Asylum, located at St. Louis; legislative appropriation for 1879 and 1880, 
$46,000. Lincoln Institute,* located at Jefferson City; legislative appro- 
priation, $10,000 for 1S79 and 18S0; devoted to training colored teachers 
for colored public schools of the state. School of Mines and Metallurgy, 
located at Rolla; legislative appropriation, $15,000 for 1879 and 1880; 
constitutes a department of the state university. State teachers' associ- 
ation, meets annually at places selected at each session, during the last 
week in June. 

Statistics of 1S7S. — School population, 6SS,248; school enrollment, 
448,033; No. of ungraded school districts, 8,142; No. of graded school 
districts, 279. No. of school houses, 8,092; estimated value of school 
houses and sites, $8,321,399; average school year in months, 5; average 
school year in months, in graded school districts, 9; total number of 
teachers employed, 11,26S; total wages of teachers, $2,320,430.20; aver- 
age wages of teachers per month, males, $36.36, females, $28.09; aver- 
age wages of teachers per month, in grades schools, estimated, males, 
$87.81, females, $40.73. 

Revenue. — From interest on state permanent fund, $174,030.15; 
from one-fourth state revenue collections, $363,276.32; from county and 
township permanent funds, $440,191.37; from district taxes, $2,446,- 
910.71. Total, $3,424,408.55. 

Permanent Funds.— State fund, $2,909,457.11; county fund, $2,388,- 
368.29; township or sixteenth section fund, $1,980,678.51. Total $7,278,- 
046.80. 

The state auditor's report for 1879 and 1880 furnishes the following 
school items; and they make a very favorable showing for the public 
school interests of Missouri: 

1879. 1880. 

Amount distributed to the counties $502,795.18 $515,286.09 

Maintenance of State University 19,500.00 19,500.00 

Support of Lincoln Institute 5,000.00 5,000.00 

Support School of Mines and Metallurgy 7,500.00 7,500.00 

IN ormal School, 1st district 7,500.00 7,500 00 

" 2d " 7,500.00 7,500.00 

" " South Missouri district 7,500,00 7,500.00 

Distribution of school laws 308.58 436.50 

♦Lincoln Institute was first projected by the 62d Regiment U. S. Colored Infantry, 
while on duty in Texas, in 1865, and was designed for the higher education of colored 
people. In January, 1866, the state attached a state normal department to it, to provide 
suitable teachers for the public schools for colored children. The school was opened 
Sept. 17, 1876, but was not finally provided for by law as a state normal school until Feb. 
14, 1870, since which time it has gone steadily forward and done a good work for the 
negro population. 



38 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

MASSACHUSETTS AND MISSOURI SCHOOL RATES. 

Massachusetts is taken almost universally as the standard of measure- 
ment for other states. The state reports of Massachusetts and Missouri, 
for 1879, show that in the former there was applied to the educa- 
tion of every child of school age the sum of $13.71 — in the latter, 
$4.37. But it must be remembered that school age in Massachusetts is 
between five and fifteen years; in Missouri between six and twenty; a 
difference of four years in school. 

The report of the secretary of the Massachusetts board of education, 
for 1879, states the "per centage of valuation appropriated for public 
schools," as two and seventy-two one hundredths mills. In Missouri it 
was over five mills. That is, every tax-paying Missourian paid nearly 
twice as much for the maintenance of public schools on the same amount 
(of value) of property as the tax-payer of Massachusetts. 

DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS. 

JH^Jt-r* SAME OF INSTITUTION. WHERE LOCATED. DENOMINATION. 

OKG- ZED. 

1 S71 Central College Fayette M. E. Church South. 

1856 Christian College Canton Christian. 

1859 College Christian Brothers . St. Louis Roman Catholic. 

1873 Drurv College Springfield Congregational. 

1868 Hannibal College Hannibal M. E. Church South. 

1865 Lewis College Glasgow Methodist Episcopal. 

1870 Lincoln College Greenwood United Presbyterian. 

1853 McGee College College Mound. . . Cumb. Presbyterian. 

1867 St. Joseph College St. Joe Roman Catholic. 

1832 St. Louis University St. Louis Roman Catholic. 

1844 St. Paul College Palmyra Protestant Episcopal. 

1844 St. Vincent College Cape Girardeau. .Roman Catholic. 

1857 Washington University. . .St. Louis Non-Sectarian. 

1852 Westminster College Fulton Presbyterian. 

1853 Wm. Jewell College Liberty Baptist. 

1869 Woodland College Independence .... Christian. 

1835 St. Charles College St. Charles M. E. Church South. 

1852 Central College Fayette " " " 

1843 Arcadia College Arcadia " " " 

THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS. 

1839 Concordia College St. Louis Evangelical Luth'ran 

1844 St. Vincent College Cape Girardeau. . Roman Catholic. 

Theological School of West- 
minster College Fulton Presbyterian. 

1869 Vanderman School of The- 
ology Liberty Baptist. 

In addition to the above, the Baptists have: Stephens College, Columbia* 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 39 

Mt. Pleasant College, Hunts ville; Baptist Female College, Lexington; La 
Grange College, La Grange; Baptist College, Louisiana; Liberty Female 
College, Liberty; St. Louis Seminary for Young Ladies, Jennings Sta- 
tion; Fairvievv Female Seminary, Jackson; Boorjeville Seminary for 
Young Ladies, Booneville; North Grand River College, Edinburg; 
Ingleside Academy, Palmyra. 

The Christian connection has Christian University, at Canton, in Lewis 
county. 

The Congregationalists have Thayer College, at Kidder, in Caldwell 
county. 

The German Evangelicals have Missouri College, in Warren county. 

The Methodist Episcopals (North) have Johnson College at Macon 
City. 

The Presbyterians have Lindenwood Female College, at St. Charles. 

A good feeling prevails amongst these different schools. Each attends 
to its own work in its own way, caring for the patronage of its own peo- 
ple and the community at large, as a good neighbor of every other 
worker. A most liberal and impartial legislative policy is pursued, by 
dealing with all alike before the law, whether in the maintenance of 
vested rights or in the matter of taxation. By constitutional provision 
all property actually used for school and religious purposes may be 
exempted from taxes, and the same constitution most explicitly interdicts 
all discrimination, and also all favor or partiality. 

LAW SCHOOLS. 

FOUNDED. NAME LOCATION. 

1872 Law College of State University Columbia. 

1867 Law Department of Washington University St. Louis. 

MEDICAL SCHOOLS. 

FOCNDED. NAME. LOCATION. 

1869 Kansas City College of Physicians and Surgeons. .Kansas City. 

1873 Medical College of State University Columbia. 

1840 Missouri Medical College St. Louis. 

1841 St. Louis Medical College " 

1858 Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri " 

1865 Missouri Dental College " 

1864 St.- Louis College of Pharmacy " 

SCIENTIFIC SCHOOLS. 

1870 Agricultural and Mechanical College (State L'm- 

versity") Columbia. 

1871 Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (State 

University) Rolla. 

1857 Polytechnic Department of Washington University. St. Louis. 



40 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

m a . g^ ^ 

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS-1879-80. °t <~2 g|| 

*« f sM 

Catholic 216 264 200,000 

Protestant Episcopal 65 50 25,000 

Lutheran Independent Evangelical 25 20 1,000 

English Evangelical 6 6 1,000 

German " 76 68 3,633 

Presbyterian, O. S. North 210 151 11,143 

" South 135 73 7,662 

Cumberland 361 169 15,823 

United 10 12 700 

" Reformed 3 4 165 

Congregational 71 47 3,747 

Baptist 1.385 823 86,999 

Christian, about ' 500 500 70,000 

Methodist Episcopal, South 559 648 53,382 

North 359 420 42,888 

African 58 59 4,954 

African Methodist Episcopal, Zion ) 

Colored " " V about 116 118 9,908 

Methodist, Protestant and Free Methodist Episcopal Church ) 

Unitarian 5 5 

Total 4,160 3,437 539,004 

Note.— Church members of the Catholic and Protestant Episcopal Churches include all persona bap- 
tized into the church. The others count only communicants in good standing. 



PROTECTIONAL LAWS. 



Our state legislature has made ample and discreet provision for the 
protection of a home-place from sale on execution. The home and property 
rights of married women, widows and orphans, are guaranteed by 
statute as far as is practicable. A limit has also been fixed to the amount 
of indebtedness which may be incurred by the people in voting bonds to 
railroads, or other enterprises in which they may feel a friendly interest, 
but in aiding which, too generally, so many western -communities have 
burdened themselves and their posterity with debts and taxation that are 
grevious to be borne. 

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. 

The laws of Missouri reserve from execution, in the hands of every 
head of a family living in the country, a homestead, consisting of one 
hundred and sixty (160) acres of land, not exceeding $1,500 in value; to 
every head of a family, in cities of over 40,000 inhabitants, a homestead 
consisting of not more than eighteen square rods of ground, and of a 
valuation not exceeding $3,000; and in cities and towns of less than 40,- 
000 inhabitants, a homestead, consisting of not more than thirty square 
rods of ground,, and of the value of not more than $1,500. Thus it is 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 41 

seen that a farmer's homestead in Missouri consists of one hundred ajid 
sixty acres of land and the improvements thereon, not exceeding in value 
$1,500; the homestead of the residents of the smaller towns is of the 
same value; while that allowed to the inhabitants of St. Louis, St. 
Joseph and Kansas City, where land is more valuable, and the cost of 
living greater, is fixed at $3,000. 

The homestead is in the nature of a lien or charge, in favor of the 
wife and children, upon certain property of the husband, defined in 
extent, and limited in value. A declaration of what this property is may 
be recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds, and notice is thus 
imparted to all persons having dealings with the owner, that this particu- 
lar property is not subject to execution, and that they ought not to give 
credit on the faith of it. The state, under this head, provides that: "Any 
married woman may file her claim to the tract or lot of land occupied or 
claimed by her and her husband, or by her, if abandoned by her husband, 
as a homestead. Said claim shall set forth the tract or lot claimed, that 
she is the wife of the person in whose name the said tract or lot appears 
of record, and said claim shall be acknowledged by her before some 
officer authorized to take proof or acknowledgment of instruments of 
writing affecting real estate, and be filed in the recorder's office, and it 
shall be the duty of the recorder to receive and record the same. After 
the filing of such claims, duly acknowledged, the husband shall be de- 
barred from, and incapable of selling, mortgaging and alienating the 
homestead in any manner whatever, and such sale, mortgage or alienation 
is hereby declared null and void; and the filing of any such claims as 
aforesaid with the recorder shall impart notice to all persons of the con- 
tents thereof, and all subsequent purchasers and mortagors shall be 
deemed, in law and equity, to purchase with notice; provided, however, 
that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent the hus- 
band and wife from jointly conveying, mortgaging, alienating, and, in 
any other manner, disposing of such homestead, or any part thereof." 

Such a law, while securing the benefits of a homestead to the debtor, 
works no injustice to the creditor. He sees that the debtor has certain 
property recorded as his homestead. He never gives credit on the faith that 
this property will be subject to his execution; but he looks simply to the 
other property of the debtor, or to the state of his business and his char- 
acter for honesty. 

It may be added that the supreme court of this state has construed the 
homestead laws liberally, with the view of carrying out the benevolent 
purposes of the legislature. If the debtor is ignorant or timid, when the 
sheriff comes with an execution to levy, and fails to claim his right of 
homestead, his family are not, therefore, to be turned out of doors. The 



42 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

sheriff must summon appraisers and set the homestead apart, whether the 
debtor claims it or not; and if he does not do this, his sale will pass no title 
to the purchaser so far as the debtor's homestead is concerned. If the 
debtor makes a conveyance of property embracing his family homestead, 
for the purpose of hindering or defrauding his creditors, this does not 
work a forfeiture of his homestead right; his wrongful act is not thus to 
be appealed to in prejudice of his wife and children. If the cruelty of 
the husband drives the wife from the homestead, this does not put an end 
to her interest in the homestead. She may return and claim it after his 
death, and his administrator must set it apart for her. 

EXEMPTIONS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

Pursuing the same wise and benevolent policy, the statutes provide 
that the following personal property shall be exempt from attachment and 
execution when owned by the head of a family: "1. Ten head of choice 
hogs, ten head of choice sheep, and the product thereof in wool, yarn or 
cloth; two cows and calves, two plows, one axe, one hoe, and one set of 
plow gears, and all the necessary farm implements for the use of one man. 
2. Two work animals of the value of one hundred and fifty dollars. 3. 
The spinning-wheel and cards, one loom and apparatus, necessary for 
manufacturing cloth in a private family. 4. All the spun yarn, thread 
and cloth manufactured for family use. 5. Any quantity of hemp, flax 
and wool, not exceeding twenty-five pounds each. 6. All wearing apparel 
of the family, four beds, with usual bedding, and such other household and 
kitchen furniture, not exceeding the value of one hundred dollars, as may 
be necessary for the family, agreeably to an inventory thereof, to be re- 
turned, on oath, with the execution, by the officer whose duty it may be 
to levy the same. 7. The necessary tools and implements of trade of 
any mechanic while carrying on his trade. 8. Any and all arms and 
military equipments required by law to be kept. 9. All such provisions 
as may be on hand for family use, not exceeding one hundred dollars in 
value. 10. The bibles and other books used in a family, lettered grave- 
stones, and one pew in a house of worship. 11. All lawyers, physicians, 
ministers of the gospel and teachers, in the actual prosecution of their 
calling, shall have the privilege of selecting such books as shall be neces- 
sary to their profession, in the place of other property herein allowed, at 
their option; and doctors of medicine, in lieu of other property exempt 
from execution, may be allowed to select their medicines." In lieu of this 
property, each head of a family may, at his election, select and hold 
exempt from execution any other property, real, personal, or mixed, or 
debts or wages not exceeding in value the amount of three hundred dol- 
lars. 

The legislature of the state has wisely considered that the debtor ought 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 43 

not to be permitted to plead poverty as against the claims of creditors 
equally necessitous. It is accordingly provided that the foregoing 
exemption cannot be claimed when the debt is for wages due to a house 
servant or common laborer to the extent of $90, and when the action to 
recover the same is brought witoin six months after the last services were 
rendered. Nor can the purchaser of goods make this law an instrument 
of fraud by claiming goods which he has purchased on credit against an 
execution for the purchase money. 

RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN. 

State legislation is extremely careful of the rights of married women. 
If a wife is unjustly abandoned by her husband, the circuit court will 
sequester his property for the purpose of maintaining her and the children 
of the marriage. If he abandons her, or from worthlessness or drunken- 
ness fails to support her, the court will not only allow her to sell her own 
real estate without his joining in the deed, but will require any person 
holding money or property to which he may be entitled in her right, to 
pay the money over to her. 1. Under such circumstances she is entitled 
to the proceeds of her own earnings and those of her minor children.' 2. 
If her real estate is damaged for railroads, or other public works, the 
damages accrue exclusively to her. 3. If her husband gets into the peni- 
tentiary, she becomes to all intents and purposes a femme sole . 4. And if he, 
by ill usage, compels her to live separate and apart from him, she may 
claim the sole and exclusive enjoyment of her property as if she were un- 
married. Rents, issues and profits of her real estate cannot be taken in 
execution for his debts, except when contracted for familv necessaries. 
Moreover, by a very broad statute lately enacted, a wife may hold all her 
personal property free from her husband's control and exempt from liabil- 
ity for his debts. If he becomes incompetent to lead in the marital part- 
nership, she may take the reins in her hands, engage in trade, accumulate 
property, and no act of his will create a charge upon it. Finally, at his 
death, the family homestead descends to her and the children, if any there 
be, to be held by her for life; if there be any children, in common with 
them; if not, by herself alone. She also takes dower in one-third of all 
the real estate of which her husband may have been seized at any time 
during marriage, in which she has not conveyed her right of dower, 
diminished, however, by the homestead which is set apart to her. She 
takes also a child's share of his personal estate; and, in addition to all 
this, she is allowed to retain as her absolute property a large amount of 
personalty. 

TAXATION. 

The constitution places it beyond the power of reckless or dishonest 



44 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

public agents to burden the people with excessive taxation. Taxes for 
state purposes, exclusive of the taxes necessary to pay the bonded debt 
of the state, cannot exceed twenty cents on the hundred dollars valuation; 
and whenever the taxable property of the state shall amount to $900,000,- 
000 the rate shall not exceed fifteen cents. The rate of taxation for 
county, city, town and school purposes, is likewise strictly limited. 
Counties, cities, towns, townships and school districts cannot become 
indebted beyond the revenue provided for each year without a two-thirds 
vote of all voters therein, nor, in any event, to an amount exceeding five 
per cent on the value of the taxable property. 

The statutes of limitation in Missouri provide that an open account can- 
not be collected after it has run five years; a note is uncollectible if held for 
ten years after due; and a judgment expires by limitation in ten years. 

The standard legal rate of interest in this state is six per cent; but a 
higher rate not exceeding ten per cent may be contracted for. 

PUBLIC DEBT LIMITATION. 

The state debt, according to the State Auditor's last report, [1878], is 
$16,"758,000. This mostly grew out of the various issues of bonds given 
in aid of railroads, and bears interest at the rate of six per cent per annum. 
To liquidate this debt the constitution provides for the annual levy of 
taxes, now fixed by law at twenty cents on the $100 of the valuation. 
With the sum thus raised the interest of the debt is first to be paid, and of 
the remainder not less than $250,000 is to be set apart as a sinking fund 
for the purchase and retirement of the bonds themselves. "Hence, in a 
few years, with the vast increase in the taxable wealth, which is sure to 
come, the whole of the debt will be extinguished. There is an additional 
state tax of twenty cents on the $100 for current expenditures, a large 
share of which is devoted to the support of the common schools. This 
tax is ample for the purposes for which it is intended, and there is a con- 
stitutional provision that it shall be reduced to fifteen cents on the $100 as 
soon as the taxable property of the state shall aggregate a total valuation 
of $900,000,000. 

The state, and all its municipal subdivisions, whether counties, cities or 
towns, are forbidden by the constitution to loan their credit to any corpora- 
tion, so that there is no method by which the public indebtedness can be 
increased in the usual way. Owing to the great zeal of the people to for- 
ward public improvements of all kinds, a municipal indebtedness, aggre- 
gating, according to the auditor's last report, $35,727,566.49, has been 
contracted. Of this amount the debt of the city of St. Louis is shown to 
constitute $22,712,000, leaving for the agricultural portion of the state and 
the other cities, towns, townships and school districts only a little over 
$13,000,000. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 45 

The present organic law prevents any municipality from contracting 
liabilities, in any one fiscal year, beyond the amount of the levy made for 
that year, and in no county can the rate of taxation for local purposes, 
aside from the school tax, exceed fifty cents on the $100 valuation, unless 
two-thirds of the voters shall assent to the levy of a larger sum. Neither 
can the school tax in country districts exceed forty cents on the $100 
without the consent of the tax-payers, to be obtained by a vote of the ma- 
jority of the residents. 

COMPARATIVE TAX RATE. 

It will be interesting to note how the tax rate of our own state com- 
pares with that of adjoining states. 

The average tax levy for all purposes in Missouri is about $1.30 on the 
$100; adding to this 70 cents on the $100 for the payment of bonded 
indebtedness where it exists, there is an average of $2 on the $100 as 
the rate, and a certainty of its steady decrease. This is given as an average, 
and while in a few counties the tax rate is higher, in the majority it is 
much lower. 

By the report of the state auditor of Kansas, for the year ending June 
30, 1878, the tax levy for state purposes is shown to be 55 cents on the 
$100, and the average levy for local debts and expenses $3.82 on the $100 r 
making a total average tax of $4.37 on the $100. The taxable property 
of Kansas in 1878 aggregated the sum of $138,698,810.98, and the local 
indebtedness was reported by the state auditor at $13,473,197.51. In 
Nebraska the tax levy for state purposes alone is 62-£ cents on the $100, 
exclusive of taxes to pay local debts and expenses. 

In Iowa, the average rate of taxation for the year 1878 was $2.67 on the 
$100. In Illinois the tax levy for 1877, the last given in the auditor's 
report, was $3.24 on the $100, and the local indebtedness of that state 
was then the sum of $51,811,691. 

Thus, it is clear that Missouri has a lower rate of taxation than any of 
the neighboring states above mentioned ; and, in addition to this, under 
her wise constitutional provision, the rate of taxation must continually 
decrease every year, until only a sufficient amount of taxes to liquidate 
current expenses will be collected. 

There are twenty counties that have no indebtedness whatever, and 
forty more the debt of which is merely nominal; so that their burden of 
taxation will be lighter than in any other portion of the United States. 



4:6 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



FEDERAL AFFAIRS IN THE STATE. 



FEDERAL COURTS. 

The United States is divided into nine supreme court circuits, to each of 
which one of the supreme court judges is assigned. Missouri is now in 
the eighth circuit, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado; and George W. McCrary, of Iowa, 
who was secretary of war, in President Hayes' cabinet, is now the 
judge of this circuit. Missouri is divided into an east and west United 
States judicial district; and Samuel Treat, of St. Louis, is United States 
judge of the east district, while Arnold Krekel, of Jefferson City, presides 
over the west district. 

FEDERAL REVENUE. 

Missouri paid the following amounts of internal revenue to the United 
States during the year ending June 30, 1880: On distilled spirits, $2,151,- 
643.98; on tobacco, $2,391,989.93; on fermented liquors, $711,654.53; on 
banking, $182,929.25; on other items, $1,360.27. Total, $5,448,344.83. 
Illinois, Kentucky, New York and Ohio were the only states which paid 
a larger sum of revenue on spirits; Illinois, New Jersey, New York, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia paid larger on tobacco; Illinois, New 
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin paid larger on fermented 
liquors (chiefly lager beer); California, New York and Pennsylvania are 
the only states which paid larger on banking transactions. 

In 1878, Missouri paid $115,729.64 as penalties for violation of U. 
S. internal revenue laws, which was the highest amount on this item paid 
by any state — the next highest being Pennsylvania, which was " caught 
at it" to the amount of $27,867.20. 

U. S. LANDS AND LAND OFFICES. 

There are now three U. S. land offices in Missouri, to-wit: at Boon- 
ville, Ironton and Springfield. The report of the general land office for 
1879 showed 41,836,931 acres of government land still open to home- 
stead entry in Missouri. 

LEGAL TENDER IN MISSOURI. 

Gold coins of the United States (un mutilated), and the " greenback" 
paper currency are legal tender for the payment of any possible amount 
of indebtedness. Silver coins are legal tender for any amount not exceed- 
ing $10 at one payment — but the standard silver dollar is legal tender for 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 47 

any amount, unless the contract specially provides otherwise. The baser 
coins of nickel, copper and alloy (3 cent pieces), are legal tender for any 
sum not exceeding 25 cents. The "trade dollar," and national bank 
notes are not legal tender; neither is any foreign coin, either of gold or 
silver, nor the " stamped bullion " gold pieces of California. 

U. S. CUSTOM HOUSE. 

St. Louis is a port of entry for foreign goods; and the imports received 
here during the year 1880, amounted to (foreign value), $1,401,180; on 
which the import duties paid was $537,257.83. A fine custom house 
building is in process of erection, and will be completed in 1881. 

MILITARY. 

In the south part of St. Louis, on the river; there is a United States 
arsenal, and six miles below the city, Jefferson Barracks are situated, a sta- 
tion for a small part of the regular army. A few squares from the 
arsenal there is a United States marine hospital. 



MISSOURI'S DISTINGUISHED MEN. 

Within our allotted space we can only give a brief sketch of those citi- 
zens of Missouri who have so pre-eminently distinguished themselves as 
to have achieved a solid national, and in some cases a world-wide fame. 
First amongf these is — 

Daniel Boone. The adventures of this famous hunter and Indian 
fighter have become a staple part of the world's perennial stock of daring 
exploits and hair-breadth escapes. He was born in Bucks county, Penn- 
sylvania, February 11, 1735; emigrated to North Carolina and there mar- 
ried. In 1773 he emigrated with his own and five other families to Ken- 
tucky, and founded the present town of Boonesborough. In 1795 he 
removed to the Missouri river country, and settled in St. Charles county, 
about forty-five miles west of St. Louis, where he died in 1S20, aged 85. 
His remains, together with those of his wife, were many years after- 
ward removed to Boonesborough, Kentucky, and a monument reared 
over them. 

Thomas H. Benton. Col. Benton was, in his lifetime, recognized as 
one of the foremost statesmen of the nation, and the hearts of all good 
Missourians kindle with pride at the mention of his name. He was a 
specimen type of the best sort of Democrat; he always stood with Gen. 



48 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

Jackson and opposed the state-rights doctrines of John C. Calhoun; in 
congress he opposed the repeal of the "Missouri Compromise;" and during 
Gen. Jackson's presidency Col. Benton was so vigorous a champion of 
hard money, as against the old U. S. bank swindle, that he came to be 
familiarly known all over the United States as "Old Bullion." Col. Benton 
was born near Hillsborough, North Carolina, March 14, 1782; studied law 
at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1810. In the war of 1812 he served as a Colonel 
under Gen. Jackson ; settled at St. Louis in 1815. In 1820 he was elected as 
the first U. S. Senator from Missouri, and continued to be re-elected every 
term for thirty years; the longest period that any man in the nation has 
filled a senatorial seat. In 1852-3 he served one term as member of con- 
gress from the first district. In 1856 he was defeated in his candidacy for 
governor by the state-rights party, to whose doctrines he was strongly 
opposed, from the time of the nullification acts of South Carolina in 1832, 
up to the day of his death. In 1854 he published his great work, "Thirty 
Years in the United States Senate," in two large volumes, and these are 
held in high esteem as standard authority by politicians and statesmen of 
every class. Col. Benton died April 10, 1858, mourned by the whole 
nation as one of her worthiest sons. 

James B. Eads, a citizen of St. Louis. His marvelous achievements as 
a civil engineer have made his name familiar in all civilized countries on 
the face of the earth; and his last great work, the jetties at the mouth of 
the Mississippi river, has revolutionized the commerce of three continents. 
Mr. Eads was born at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, May 28, 1820; emigrated 
with his parents to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1829; and in 1833 settled at 
St. Louis. In July, 1861, the government advertised for seven gun-boats 
of about 600 tons burden, drawing not over six feet of water, plated with 
iron 2£ inches thick, to steam nine miles an hour, and carry thirteen guns.* 
Mr. Eads contracted to build those seven vessels in sixty-five days. At 
this time the timber for them stood uncut in the forest; the iron for their 
plating was still in the mines, and no machine yet in existence of capacity 
to roll such enormous plates; and not a pound of iron or steel yet wrought 
or cast for the construction of the twenty-one steam engines and thirty- 
five boilers required to propel the fleet. But within twenty-four hours 
from the signing of the contract at Washington, he had all the iron works, 
foundries and machine shops of St. Louis, started on the work ; and inside 
of two weeks he had more than 4,000 men working in alternate gangs by 
night and day, Sundays included, so that not an hour should be lost. The 
boats were built at St. Louis, but the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, 
Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Missouri were all drawn upon for material, 
while large works in Cincinnati and Pittsburg were also whirling every 

*See Major Boynton's "History of the United States Navy." 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 49 

wheel to hasten forward the great undertaking, all being under the direc- 
tion and control by telegraph or in person of this one man; and he filled 
the contract. The world's history shows no parallel to the wonderful 
mastery of resources and the tremendous vigor of executive and super- 
visory talent which this achievement involved. He projected, planned 
and built the magnificent railroad bridge across the Mississippi river at 
St Louis, which ranks among the greatest works of its kind on this round 
globe. He projected and built the jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi, 
which enable the largest sea-going vessels to pass in and out freely, thus 
making possible the barge system of shipping grain and other products 
from St. Louis and Kansas City direct to foreign countries, and which 
has within two years revolutionized the entire international commerce of 
the Mississippi and Missouri valley states. He is now engaged in devel- 
oping a ship railway across the Isthmus of Panama, which will take the 
heaviest loaded ships into a dry-dock on wheels and trundle them from 
ocean to ocean as easily and safely as they are now towed through the 
ship canal at Suez. 

Carl Schurz. Born near Cologne, Prussia, March 2, 1829; educated 
at the University of Bonn ; took part in the revolutionary agitations of 
Europe in 1848 and following years, involving Germany, Austria, Italy, 
Hungary, etc.; and in which Kossuth in Hungary, and Garibaldi in Italy 
were prominent leaders, whose names are familiar to and honored by all 
Americans. Mr. Schurz came to the United States in 1852; settled as a 
lawyer at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1859; in 1861 was appointed minister 
to Spain; resigned and came home, and in 1862-3-4, was a major-gen- 
eral of volunteers in the Union army. In 1S67 he settled at St. Louis as 
editor of the Westliche Post; was United States senator from Mis- 
souri from 1869 to 1875, and was secretary of the interior in President 
Hayes' cabinet. Mr. Schurz has thus won the highest positions ever held 
in the United States by any foreign-born citizen, and has reflected honor 
upon Missouri, his adopted state, by his masterful ability as a public 
speaker, and his strong, earnest, humanitarian efforts as an executive offi- 
cer. 

Prof. Charles V. Riley, was born in London, England, September 
12, 1843; came to the United States in 1860. In 1868 established in St. 
Louis, in company with Benjamin D. Walsh, a scientific journal called the 
American Entomologist, and was the same year appointed state entomol- 
ogist of Missouri ; this position he filled to the great benefit and honor of 
the state for eight years; then he was called to come up higher, and took 
position as entomologist of the national department of agriculture at 
Washington. Prof. Riley's valuable investigations and discoveries with 
regard to the Colorado beetle (potato bug), the Rocky Mountain locust 
4 



50 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

(grasshoppers), the cotton worm, and the phylloxera, or grape insect, hr.ve 
placed his name in the foremost ranks in the world of science, and among 
the greatest of benefactors to the agricultural and horticultural industries 
of the world. This he achieved while serving Missouri as state entomol- 
ogist, and through the publication by the state of his annual reports. 
Hence, the name and good repute of our noble commonwealth is insepar- 
ably associated with his honor and fame, which has reached the farthest 
confines of every land where potatoes, cotton or grapes are cultivated. 



MISSOURI IN THE CIVIL WAR. 

Missouri was powerfully agitated by the controversy on the slavery 
question in 1818-19-20, which resulted in the "Missouri Compromise." 
This was a compact, mainly carried through congress by the eloquence 
and influence of the great senator, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, by which 
it was agreed that Missouri should be admitted to the Union as a slave- 
holding state ; but that slavery should be forever excluded from any states 
which might thereafter be formed out of new territory west of the western 
boundary of Missouri, and north of the parallel of 3G degrees, 30 minutes 
of north latitude. This line practically corresponds with the southern 
boundary of Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Utah, 
as they now stand. 

In May, 1854, congress passed a bill organizing the territories of 
Kansas and Nebraska, in which it was declared that the Missouri Com- 
promise of 1820 did not apply to them. This was an indirect way of 
repealing or rendering nugatory the bargain made between the northern 
and the southern states in that compromise ; and the floodgates of angry 
debate, contention and strife were at once opened. This became the issue 
upon which all elections turned. Instead of slavery being prohibited, as the 
compromise of 1820 had declared it should be, it was thrown open for the 
territorial legislature to decide whether it should be free or slave territory. 
In view of this, there was a rush and race of settlers from the free states 
and the slave states into Kansas, to see which party should get control of 
the first territorial legislature; and in this movement Missouri, as a slave 
state, took a prominent part. It was a border country conflict, and there 
was illegality and violence on both sides, making a chapter in our state 
history the details of which might profitably be dropped out and forgotten. 
Suffice to say, the free state party carried the election; and this conflict 
was a precursor of the great civil war. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 51 

In 1860 C. F. Jackson was elected governor of Missouri. Abraham 
Lincoln had been elected President of the United States at the same time. 
Governor Jackson took his seat January 4, 1S61; the question of secession 
was then already in warm discussion in some of the southern states, and 
Governor Jackson in his inaugural address maintained that " Missouri 
must stand by the other slave-holding states, whatever course they may 
pursue." The general assembly ordered an election to be held February 
18th, for members of a state convention; the proposed object of this con- 
vention was " to consider the then existing relations between the United 
States, the people and government of the different states, and the govern- 
ment and people of the state of Missouri; and to adopt such measures for 
vindicating the sovereignty of the state and the protection of its institutions 
as shall appear to them to be demanded." This convention met, first at 
Jefferson City, and afterward at St. Louis, and had a decided majority of 
Unionists — that is, of men opposed to secession; some because they 
believed in the doctrine of " Federal Nationality," as against the doctrine 
called "State Rights;" others because, like A. H. Stevens, of Georgia, 
they saw with a clear eye that secession must inevitably result in the 
overthrow of slavery. And thus the Union men themselves were strongly 
divided into northern and southern sympathizers. The convention sat at 
St. Louis, without any important results, from March 9th to 22d, when it 
adjourned, subject to the call of its committee on federal relations. 

National events rushed on rapidly to a crisis which would admit of no 
temporizing. In April, Fort Sumter was fired upon; President Lincoln 
called for 75,000 troops; and men must now take sides for or against the 
national sovereignty of the lawfully constituted Federal authorities. Our 
legislature was in session; its measures and discussions were almost 
entirely of the "State Rights" type; and in a message to the legislature 
on May 3, 1861, Governor Jackson said the President's call for troops "is 
unconstitutional and illegal, tending toward a consolidated despotism. * * 
Our interest and sympathies are identical with those of the slave-holding 
states, and necessarily unite our destiny with theirs." While these 
influences were working in the central and western parts of the state, and 
organizations of "state guards" were being rapidly formed to resist the 
federal authority, Gen. Nathaniel Lyon and Col. F. P. Blair were actively 
enlisting men and organizing regiments in St. Louis and vicinity, to main- 
tain the federal authority. The most intense alarm and consternation 
prevailed throughout the state. Several minor conflicts occurred between 
state militia or "guards" and Union troops, all hinging upon the question 
of which power had the right of paramount sovereignty. The state 
troops were mostly under command of General Sterling Price, subordinate 
only to the governor of the state; while the federal troops were under 



52 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

command of General Lyon, by authority of the President of the United 
States.* 

Governor Jackson finally tried to make terms with Gen. Lyon, that no 
federal troops should be stationed in or allowed to pass through the 
state. This was refused; and the governor then immediately issued a 
formal call, June 12, for 50,000 state militia. About April 20th, nearly 
two months before this, the " state guards " had seized the United States 
arsenal at Liberty, in Clay county, and taken its stores and arms for 
their own use. This was several weeks before the celebrated "Camp 
Jackson" affair. The wager of battle was now fairly joined in Missouri 
between different parties of her own citizens, although volunteers from 
other states soon began to pour in. The following is a chronological list 
of the more important actions and events: 

April 12, 1861. — Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter, which was 
yielded up and evacuated on the 14th. 

April 15. — President Lincoln's proclamation, calling for 75,000 volun- 
teers to sustain the government, and calling a special session of congress. 

SUCCEEDING EVENTS IN MISSOURI.f 

April ip. — Gov. Jackson wrote to David Walker, President of the 
Arkansas Convention, thus: "I have been from the beginning in favor of 
decided and prompt action on the part of the southern states, but the 
majority of the people of Missouri, up to the present time, have differed 
with me. " 

April 20. — The U. S. arsenal, at Liberty, in Clay county, was seized 
and garrisoned by about a hundred " state guards, " and the arms and 
cannon were distributed to their friends throughout the county, with the 
concurrence of the governor. :{; 

April 22. — Governor Jackson officially resented the president's call for 
troops, and called an extra session of the legislature, to arm and equip 
state troops. State militia ordered to go into encampment on May 3, for 
one week. 

* It is not tlie purpose of this history to give a detailed narrative of events of the war 
time; neither to discuss the right or the wrong of the views of either party in the conflict. 
We only give a brief mention of some of the most important incidents and leading actors, 
to show how and wherein the people of Missouri were themselves divided in opinion, 
what motives moved them, and what events stand out as of chief historic celebrity. 
Indeed, we would gladly skip this period of our state history entirely, if it were permissible 
in such a work. 

fThe events here given, in their chronological order, have been collated from more 
than thirty different volumes containing different items or parts of Missouri's war history. 
The narratives, dates and statistics were found often conflicting ; and we have endeavored 
to use those only which seemed to be the best authenticated, or the most probable under 
the circumstances — and to localize events as closely as possible by naming the towns, 
streams, counties, etc., where they occurred. 

JThe governor had already (April 20th) seized the United States arsenal at Liberty, and 
had distributed among his friends the arms it contained. " — Draper's History of the Civil 
War, Vol. II, p. 228. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 53 

April 25, Night. — Capt. Lyon secretly removed the war stores in U. 
S. arsenal at St. Louis, by steamboat, over to Alton, Illinois. 

April 28. — Gov. Jackson wrote secretly to J. W. Tucker, Esq., of St. 
Louis: " I want a little time to arm the state, and I am assuming every 
responsibility to do it with all possible dispatch. * * * We should 
keep our own counsels. * * * Nothing should be said about the time 
or the manner in which Missouri should go out. That she ought to go, 
and will go at the proper time, I have no doubt. She ought to ha re 
gone last winter, when she could have seized the public arms and public 
property and defended herself. " * 

May j. — Legislature met. Governor Jackson denounced the presi- 
dent's call for troops as " imcomtitutional and illegal. " Mean while Col. 
F. P. Blair, Jr., member of congress from the 1st district, of St. Louis, 
had enlisted one full regiment, and had four others in course of organiza- 
tion, within ten days from the issue of the president's call. 

May 10. — A body of " state guards," under command of Gen. D. M. 
Frost, acting under Governor Jackson's authority, had established a camp 
near St. Louis, called "Camp Jackson." Capt. Lyon, who had been 
since February in charge of the U. S. arsenal at St. Louis, with a few 
soldiers of the regular army (less than 500), discovered that the Camp 
Jackson men were receiving arms and ammunition by steamboats from 
the south, in boxes marked " marble. " Accordingly, on the morning of 
May 10th, he with his regulars, and Col. Blair with his Missouri volun- 
teers, surrounded, surprised and captured the camp, taking as prisoners 
of war 639 privates and 50 officers. The arms captured consisted of 20 
cannon, 1200 new rifles, several chests of muskets, and large quantities of 
shot, shell, cartridges, etc. 

May 12. — Gen. Wm. S. Harney took command of the Union forces in 
Missouri. Meanwhile the legislature had passed an act making every 
able-bodied man subject to military duty. All public revenues for 1860-61 
(about $3,000,000) were authorized to be used by the governor for military 
purposes. 

May 2i. — Gen. Harney made a truce or compromise of peace with 
Gen. Price, commander of the state troops. 

June i. — The president repudiated Gen. Harney's truce with Price; 
also removed him from his command and gave it to Gen. Lyon, who had 
on May 17th been appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers. 

June 4.. — Governor Jackson issued a circular claiming the Harney- 
Price compact to be still in force. 

June ii. — Gen. Price and Gov. Jackson sought a "peace conference" 
with Gen. Lyon and Col. Blair. The governor stipulated as a vital con- 

*8ee official address of the state convention, issued to the people July 31, 1861. 



54 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

dition of peace, that no Federal troops should be stationed in or pass 
through Missouri. The proposition was rejected. 

June 12. — Gasconade railroad bridge burnt; also, Osage river bridge; 
and telegraph lines cut that connected with St. Louis. 

June ij. — Governor Jackson issued a call for 50,000 state militia, to repel 
federal invasion; referred to the president as " the military despotism which 
has introduced itself at Washington;" and said to the people, "your first 
allegiance is due to your own state." He appointed ex-Governor Ster- 
ling Price as major general; and M. L. Clark, John B. Clark, Parsons, 
Slack, Harris, Rains, McBride, Stein and Jeff. Thomson, as brigadier- 
generals. The state militia were called to rendezvous at Boonville and 
Lexington. The governor and other officers left Jefferson City for Boon- 
ville this day,* while at the same time General Lyon was embarking with 
1,500 men at St. Louis, to take and hold the state capital. 

June 15. — General Lyon arrived at Jefferson City. 

June 16. — Re-embarked his troops for Boonville. 

June 17. — Battle of Boonville. Colonel Marmaduke defeated. State 
troops retreated to Warsaw, with loss of fifty killed. Federal loss, two 
killed. 

June 18-19.— Colonel O'Kane, with 350 state militia, surprised in the 
night, a half-formed Union regiment at Cole Camp, in Benton county, under 
Capt. Cook. Pollard's " Southern History " says, in this affair the Union- 
ists lost 206 killed, a large number wounded, and over 100 taken prison- 
ers, beside 362 muskets captured; O'Kane lost 15 killed and 20 wounded. 

July j. — Governor Jackson and General Price were at Montevallo, in 
Vernon county, with (Pollard says) 3,600 state troops. 

July 5-6.— Battle of Carthage (or Dry Fork), in Jasper county; union 
loss, 13 killed and 31 wounded ; state troops, under Price and Jackson, 
lost about 300 killed and wounded. Gen. Seigel, the union commander, 
fell back sixty miles, to Springfield and joined Gen. Lyon. 

July 8.— A small fight occurred at Bird's Point, in Mississippi county. 
Confederates lost 3 killed and 8 wounded. Federal loss, if any, not reported. 

July 22. — The state convention, which had adjourned subject to the 
call of its committee on federal relations, re-convened at Jefferson City. 

July 25. — Maj. Gen. Fremont arrived at St. Louis, as commander of 
the western department, which comprised Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, 
Kansas, and the territories westward. 

July jo.— State convention, by a vote of 56 to 25, declared the state 
offices and seats in legislature vacant, by reason of their occupants being 
engaged in treasonable and armed hostilities against the lawfully consti- 

" *The capture of Camp Jackson and the flight of the chief executive from the capital, 
•was the occasion of a partial destruction of the Osage and Gasconade bridges [railroad], as 
well as those over Gray's creek, west of Jefferson City." — Annual report of state commis- 
sioner of statistics, 1866, p. 255. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 55 

tuted federal authorities, and that all legislative and executive acts in pur 
suance of such treason or armed hostility, pretended to be done in the 
name and by authority of the state of Missouri, were null and void. 
They elected to fill the state office vacancies, H. R. Gamble, governor; 
W. P. Hall, lieutenant governor; Mordecai Oliver, secretary of state; 
and appointed the first Monday of November as a day of general election. 

July j i. — Lieut. Governor Reynolds, whose office had been declared 
vacant by the state convention, issued a proclamation, dated at New Mad- 
rid, July 31, in which he said: "I return to the state, to accompany in 
my official capacity, one of the armies which the warrior statesman [Jef- 
ferson Davis], whose genius now presides over the affairs of our half of 
the Union, has prepared to advance against the common foe. * * * 
You behold the most warlike population on the globe, the people of the 
lower Mississippi valley, about to rush with their gleaming bowie-knives 
and unerring rifles, to aid us in driving out the abolitionists and their Hes- 
sion allies. * The road to peace and internal security is only 

through union with the south. Rally to the stars and bars, 

in union with the glorious ensign of the grizzly bear."* 

August 2. — Battle of Dug Springs, in Lawrence countv. General 
McCulloch, of Arkansas, in command of Confederates, marching to 
attack Springfield, was checked, and fell back to Sarcoxie; loss, 40 killed, 
44 wounded. General Lyon fell back to Springfield; loss, 8 killed, 30 
wounded. 

August j. — Confederate troops under Col. Martin E. Green, attacked 
Missouri state militia, under Col. Moore, at Athens, in Clark county, and 
were defeated with a loss of 43 killed. 

August 6. — Governor Jackson, being now at Carthage, and just hear- 
ing of the action of the state convention, also issued a proclamation, de- 
claring the union between Missouri and the other states totally dissolved, 
and proclaiming the state of Missouri to be " a sovereign, free and inde- 
pendent republic.'''' 

August io — Battle of Wilson's Creek. Gen. Lyon, Federal, had 
5,500 infantry, 400 cavalry, and 18 cannon. Gen. McCulloch, Confeder- 
ate, says that his "effective force was 5,300 infantry, 15 pieces of artillery, 
and 6,000 horsemen." (The Union officers imagined and reported more 
than double this number against them; one said 23,000, and another 
24,000.) The Confederates lost 421 killed, 1,317 wounded and 30 mis- 
sing. The Federals reported 223 killed, 721 wounded and 292 missing, 
and 5 cannon lost. Gen. Lyon was killed in this engagement. 

August 14. — Federals evacuated Springfield and retreated to Rolla,but 

*Early in March the confederate congress had adopted the " stars and bars" as the flag 
of their confederacy. The state seal of Missouri has two grizzly bears among its emblems. 



56 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

were not pursued. Earthwork fortifications were this day commenced 
around St. Louis. 

August j i. — Gen. Fremont issued a general order proclaiming martial 
law in Missouri; the property of all persons who had taken up arms 
against the United States was declared to be confiscated, and "their 
slaves to be free men" (President Lincoln at once annulled this last 
clause.) 

September ij. — Siege of Lexington commenced by Gen. Price. His 
force has been variously estimated from 22,000 to 28,000, with 13 cannon. 
Col. Mulligan, Federal, had 2,TS0 troops, with six brass cannon, 
two howitzers, and forty rounds of ammunition. The same day, at 
Boonville, the Confederates, led by Col. Brown, attacked the Federal gar- 
rison in command of Col. Eppstein, and were repulsed with a loss of 12 
killed and 30 wounded; Federal loss, 1 killed and 1 wounded. 

September ij. — Battle of Blue Mills Lancing, or Missouri Bottom, in 
Clay county. A body of Confederates, variously estimated at 600 to 1,000 
men, were on their way to join Gen. Price, at Lexington; and being pur- 
sued by a body of 700 Iowa and Missouri Unionist volunteers, they laid 
in ambush, and were attacked. The Federals lost 16 killed and 80 
wounded; the Confederates lost 10 killed and 60 wounded, repulsed their 
assailants, and then crossed over to Blue Mills, in Jackson county, on the 
south side of the Missouri, and marched on to Lexington. 

September iS-ip. — Main battle of Lexington. 

September 20. — Col. Mulligan surrendered. Gen. Price honorably rec- 
ognized the pluck and splendid heroism of his opponents, who were out 
of both provisions and ammunition, and for two days had had no water 
except the night dews which settled in their blankets and was wrung out 
into camp dishes in the morning. He released the privates on parole, but 
retained the officers as prisoners. Of the Federals there were 42 killed 
and 108 wounded. Gen. Price reported 25 killed and 72 wounded, from 
his regular muster rolls. But nearly half the men there with him were 
not formally enrolled as soldiers, and the losses among them could never 
be ascertained with any certainty, though known to be pretty large. 

September 21. — A fight occurred at Papinsville, in Bates county, in 
which, as reported, 17 Unionists were killed, and 40 Confederates killed 
and 100 captured. 

September 27. — Gen. Fremont left St. Louis for Jefferson City, in pur- 
suit of Price, with an army of 15,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 86 
pieces of artillery; his chief officers were Generals Hunter, Pope, Siegel, 
McKinstry and Asboth. But Price was too good a general to be caught 
at a disadvantage; he however skillfully managed to lead the Federals on 
wild goose chases after him all over southern Missouri. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 57 

October ij. — Secretary of War Cameron, and Adj't. Gen. Thomas, 

visited Fremont at Tipton. 

On the same day the Federal garrison at Lebanon, in LaClede county, 

was attacked unsuccessfully by Confederates, who lost 27 killed, 12 

wounded, and 36 taken prisoners. Federal loss, 1 killed and several 

wounded. 

October 14.. — On this day Fremont's army reported thus: 

1st division, Gen. Hunter, at Tipton 9,750 men 

2d " Gen Pope, at Georgetown 9,220 men 

3d " Gen. Siegel, at Sedalia 7,980 men 

4th " Gen. Asboth, at Tipton 6,451 men 

5th " Gen. McKinstry, at Syracuse 5,388 men 

Total 38,789 men 

They were all hunting for Gen. Price, to give him battle; he was not 
yet ready for a pitched battle, but he worried the Federals a great deal by 
decoying them into many a long and fruitless march. 

About this time several small fights occurred in different parts of the 
state, but of which few particulars can be obtained. The " American 
Annual Cyclopedia," for 1861, gives the following statistics: Oct. 15, 
Big River bridge, Federal loss, 1 killed, 7 wounded, 52 missing; Confed- 
erate loss, 20 killed, 4 wounded. October 16, Bolivar Heights [in Polk 
county], Federal loss, 7 killed; Confederate loss, 150 killed. Oct. 17, 
Pilot Knob, Federal loss, 1 killed, 10 wounded; Confederate loss, 36 
killed. Oct. 19, Big Harrison Creek, Federal loss, 2 killed, 14 wounded; 
Confederate loss, 14 killed, 8 missing. Oct. 23, West Liberty [in Putnam 
county], Federal loss, 2 wounded; Confederate loss, 15 killed, 30 wounded.* 

October 16. — Recapture of Lexington by Major White, releasing Union 
prisoners, including two colonels of Mulligan's brigade. 

October 21. — Battle of Fredericktown, in Madison countv. Confeder- 
ate Col. Jeff Thompson was defeated with loss of 200 killed, and made a 
hasty retreat, leaving 60 of his dead behind him. Federal loss, 30 killed. 

October 24. — Battle of Springfield. Major Zagonyi, with 300 cavalry, 
known as " Fremont's Bodv Guard, " attacked an irregular force estima- 
ted at 1,200 foot and 400 horsemen, and defeated them, losing 84 of his 
men killed or wounded; 100 of his troops were Kentnckians. The Con- 
federate loss was known to be considerable, but could never be fully ascer- 
tained; their dead were buried the next day, under a flag of truce. 

October 27. — Gen. Siegel reached Springfield with his division. Fre- 
mont was concentrating his army at Springfield, to fortify and hold it as 

*In the greater number of battles in this state the Federals had the advantage of more 
artillery than the Confederates, and men better skilled in its use; and this is why the 
losses on the Confederate side so often seem out of proportion. 



58 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

the key to southwestern Missouri and northern Arkansas, where Price 
and MeCulloch were operating. 

November 2. — Fremont was removed from command and Gen. Hunter 
placed in his stead. 

November 2. — A sharp tight occurred on Bee Creek, between Weston 
and Platte City, in Platte county: the Confederate loss is given as 13 killed 
and 30 missing; Federal loss not known. 

November 7. — Gen. Hunter evacuated Springfield and fell back to Rolla. 
This same day the battle of Belmont occurred; Federal loss, 84 killed, 
388 wounded, and 285 taken prisoners. Pollard's "Southern History" 
says the Confederate loss in this battle was 632. But the National Hand- 
Book reports the Confederate losses as 261 killed, 427 wounded, and 278 
missing. 

November 18. — Gen. H. W. Halieck arrived at St. Louis and took com- 
mand, in place of Gen. Hunter. 

November 21. — Gen. Halieck issued an order that no fugitive slaves should 
be permitted to enter the lines of any camp, nor of any forces on the march- 
(^President Lincoln had some time before this annulled Gen. Fremont's 
order declaring certain slaves free.) 

November 27. — Gen. J. M. Schofield placed in command of Missouri 
Federal troops. 

November and December. — During these months there occurred several 
irregular conflicts of no great importance, but still deemed worthy of cas- 
ual mention in Horace Greely's History of the War, because they served 
to show how the Missouri people were divided among themselves, and 
therebv suffered the more. The village of Warsaw was burned Nov. 19,. 
and Platte City, Dec. 16, by guerillas; a small fight occurred at Salem 
Dec. 3, at Rogers' mill Dec. 7, and at or near Glasgow, Potosi, Lexing- 
ton, Mount Zion, and Sturgeon, on Dec. 2Sth. 

December j. — Col. Freeman with a regiment of Confederate cavalry, 
made a night attack on Federal troops under Col. Bowen, near Salem, in 
Dent county, and was defeated, with a loss of 16 killed, 20 wounded and 
10 prisoners. Federal loss, 3 killed, 8 wounded, 2 missing. Col. Free- 
man had suffered a sore defeat near Springer's mill, in the east part of 
the county, in August; but no further particulars could be obtained. 

December 75. — Gen. Pope captured 300 recruits and 70 wagons loaded 
with supplies, going from Lexington to join Gen. Price, who was then at 
Osceola with 8,000 men. 

December 18. — Col. J. C. Davis, of Pope's army, surprised a Confeder- 
ate camp at Milford, and captured 3 colonels, 17 captains, 1,300 soldiers,. 
1,000 stand of arms, 1,000 horses, besides all their tents, baggage and 
supplies. Federal loss, 2 killed, 17 wounded. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. .o!> 

December 90. — By a concerted night attack, the Hannibal & St. Joe 
railroad was broken, and bridges destroyed tor about a hundred miles* 

OPERATIONS IN l Vl .' _ 

March j. — Price and McCulloch, at Boston Mountain, Arkansas, were 
joined by Maj. Gen. \ an Dorn. Confederate commander of the Trans- 
Mississippi department, and by Gen. Pike, with a brigade of Indians from 
the Indian Territory. This army now numbered about 20,000, all under 
Gen. Van Dorn. , 

March y-8. — Battle of Pea Ridge. Although Pea Ridge is really in 
Arkansas (just over the line i, the battle was fought bv the Confederates 
to regain a foothold in Missouri, and it properly belongs to the historv of 
Missouri military operations. The Federal forces under Gen. Curtis 
engaged in this battle were 10,500 men and 49 cannon. Gen. Van Dorn's 
army is variously given by different southern authorities, all :he way 
from 16,000 to 30,000. The Federal loss was 303 killed, 972 wounded, 176 
missing. Count Paris" history states that the Confederates "left more 
than one thousand men in killed and wounded upon that long-contested 
battle-field/' The Confederate Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh were 
mortally wounded in this battle, and Gen. Buckner was captured. The 
Confederates lost 1,100 killed, 2,500 wounded, and 1,600 taken prisoners. 

August 6. — Battle of Kirksville. Col. Porter, with 2,000 or 3,000 Con- 
federates, mostly raw recruits who had been destroying bridges, was 
attacked bv Col. McNeil with 1,000 cavalry and 6 cannon. Battle lasted 
four hours. Confederates retreated, with loss of ISO killed and 
wounded, and some wagon loads of arms and other supplies. Federal 
loss, 88 killed and 60 wounded. 

August io. — Federals attacked 1,200 Confederates under Col. Poindex- 
ter while crossing the Chariton river. After a running right of three or 
four days, Col. Poindexters troops were all killed, captured or dispersed, 
and himself taken prisoner. 

August ii. — Col. Hughes captured the Federal garrison of 312 men of 
the 7th Missouri cavalry, stationed at Independence. 

August ij. — Battle of Lone Jack, in Jackson county. Col. Coffey and 
Col. Hughes, with 4*500 men, attacked the Federals under Major Foster, 
wounding him, capturing his two cannon, and compelling him to retreat 
to Lexington. The victorious Confederates were in turn pursued by 

"♦Jly order of Gen. Sterling Price, it [the North Missouri Railroad] was partially- 
destroyed in June and Jul v. 1861; and on the 20th of December. 1661. for a hundred miles, 
everv bridge and culvert was broken down, and a perfect wreck made of everything that 
could be destroyed. In September and October, 1664. two trains of cars and seven depots 
were burned, and several encines iDJured." — Annual Report State Ccmnnitaioner of Stati$- 
t»«, 1866 ; p. 258. 



60 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

stronger bodies of the National troops, and rapidly retreated toward 
Arkansas. 

September 24.. — Gen. Curtis placed in command of all Union troops in 
Missouri. 

October 1. — Battle of Newtonia, in Newton county. Gen. Salomon, of 
Wisconsin, was defeated by Confederate cavalry. Losses not known. 
Gen. Hindman was advancing from Arkansas with 13,000 to 20,000 Con- 
federates, poorly armed. Gen. Schofield came up with 10,000 troops to 
attack him at Newtonia, but he retreated back into Arkansas, closely 
pursued by the Federals. 

December 7. — Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. This, being just over the 
line, was practically a Missouri battle; it was fought between the same 
armies which had been so long contending for the mastery in this state. 
Our own state Generals, Marmaduke, Parsons and Frost, were in com- 
mand, under Gen. Hindman. The Federal commanders were Generals 
Blunt and Herron. Federal loss, 495 killed, 600 wounded; the Confeder- 
ates lost 1,500 in killed and wounded, and suffered a defeat. 

events in 1863. 

January 8. — Battle of Springfield. General Brown with 1,200 Mis- 
souri State militia, was attacked by Gen. Marmaduke with 1,870 Confed- 
erate troops. The battle lasted eight hours. Federal loss, 14 killed, 145 
wounded, 5 missing. Confederates lost, 41 killed and 160 wounded, 80 
of the latter being left as prisoners. 

January 11. — Battle of Hartsville. Firing commenced at 11 A. M., and 
continued until 4:30 p. m. Confederates under Generals Marmaduke and 
Porter lost 300 killed and wounded, and 29 taken prisoners. Among the 
killed were Gen. McDonald and Col. Porter, besides six other officers. The 
Federals were under Col. Samuel Merrill, (afterward Governor of Iowa), 
and lost 7 killed, 64 wounded and 7. missing. The Confederates retreated 
back into Arkansas. 

March 28. — Steamboat " Sam. Gaty " captured by Confederates at 
Sibley's landing, near Independence. 

April 26. — The Federal garrison at Cape Girardeau under Gen. Mc- 
Neil was attacked by Gen. Marmaduke with 10,000 men, and a battle of 
five hours ensued, in which the assailants lost 60 killed and over 300 
wounded. They retreated back into Arkansas, being pursued to the state 
line by Missouri militia, and a few more were killed or captured. 

May 1 j. — Gen. Schofield was placed in command in Missouri, succeed- 
ing Gen. Curtis. 

August ij. — Col. Coffey, Confederate, attacked the 6th Missouri cav- 
alry under Col. Catherwood, at Pineville, in McDonald county, and was 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 61 

repulsed, with loss of 200 killed, wounded and prisoners, besides his 
wagons, munitions and cattle. 

October /j.— Battle near Arrow Rock, Saline county. Confederates 
reported 2,500 in number, under Cols. Shelby and Coffey, were attacked 
by Missouri state militia under Gen. E. B. Brown, and defeated with a 
loss of 300 in killed, wounded and prisoners, besides all their artillery and 
baggage. Fight lasted five hours. Federal loss not known, though 
reported as " also large." 

events in 1864. 

January 28. — Gen. Rosecrans arrived at St. Louis and took command 
of«the Department of Missouri. 

June — .The Belgian Consul, who was state commander of the secret 
order of " American Knights, " or " Sons of Liberty, " was arrested, with 
forty of the most prominent members, and held as hostages, because proof 
had been discovered that they were plotting against the Federal authori- 
ties. 

September 26.— Gen. Price, with 10,000 men, attacked the Federal gar- 
rison at Ironton (near Pilot Knob\ in command of Gen. Thomas Ewing, 
jr., with 1,200 men. After a day's hard fighting the Federals spiked their 
fort guns and retreated in the night to Rolla, having lost 200 killed and 
wounded. The Confederates lost 1,500. 

October 7. — Battle or skirmish of Moreau creek, in Cole county, which 
Gen. Price crossed, and formed his army in line of battle about four miles 
long around Jefferson City. But finding the Federal garrison intrenched, 
he marched on west without attacking them. (The Federals had 6,700 
men there). 

October 22.— Gen. Pleasanton's Federal cavalry defeated Col. Fagan at 
Independence, capturing two cannon. 

October 23. — Battle on the Big Blue creek, in Jackson county, lasting 
from 7 a. m., till 1 p. m. Confederates retreated southward. 

October 25. — Battle on little Osage Creek in Vernon countv. Gen. 
Price was defeated, the Federals under Gen. Pleasonton capturing eight 
cannon, and Generals Marmaduke and Cabell, besides five colonels and 
1,000 men, with all equipments, supplies, etc. The fighting had been 
almost continuous by some part of the troops, all along the march from 
Independence to the Little Osage; and reports at this point give the Fed- 
eral loss at 1,000 killed and wounded, and about 2,000 taken prisoners; 
Confederate loss, 900 killed, 3,800 wounded and prisoners, and ten cannon 
captured from them. 

October 28. — Gen. Price again made a stand at Newtonia, in Newton 
county, and had a sharp fight with the Federals under Gens. Blunt and San- 
born, but was defeated and escaped into Arkansas. And this was the 



132 HISTORY' OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

last encounter that can be called a "battle" within the bounds of our state. 
The numbers engaged on either side, and their losses in this last fight are 
not reported. 

MEN AND MONEY FOR THE WAR 

Under President Lincoln's first call, April 15, 1861, for 75,000 volun- 
teers, Missouri furnished 10,501 men; and she furnished a total of 108,773 
Federal or Union soldiers during the war. The total number of citizens 
of Missouri who took up arms on the Confederate side cannot be ascer- 
tained. 

During the war the state issued its indebtedness called "Defense War- 
rants" and "Union Military Bonds," for equipping and maintaining the 
militia organizations of the state; the total amount was $7,870,575. All 
■of the defense warrants and one-half of the Union military bonds were 
made receivable for state taxes; and a special fund was created for the 
redemption of the balance. The United States paid to the state of Mis- 
souri a total of $6,440,323.95, to reimburse her for military expenses 
incurred. 

ST. LOUIS IN THE WAR-TIME. 

Notwithstanding the strenuous competition of other cities, the superior 
advantages of St. Louis for distribution, and a due regard for its own 
interests, compelled the government to make St. Louis the western base 
of supplies and transportation. During the war the transactions of the 
government at this point were very large. Gen. Parsons, chief of trans- 
portation in the Mississippi Valley, submits the following as an approxi- 
mate summary of the operations in his department from 1S60 to 1S65: 

AMOUNT OF TRANSPORTATION. 

Cannons and caissons 800 

Wagons 13,000 

Cattle 80,000 

Horses and mules 250,000 

Troops 1,000,000 

Pounds of military stores 1,950,000,000 

Gen. Parsons thinks that full one-half of all the transportation employed 
by the government on the Mississippi and its tributaries was furnished by 
St. Louis. From September, 1881, to December 31, 1865, Gen. Haines, 
chief commissary of this department, expended at St. Louis for the pur- 
chase of subsistence stores, $50,700,000. And Gen. Myers, chief quar- 
termaster of the department, disbursed for supplies, transportation, and 
incidental expenses, $180,000,000. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 63 

HOSPITAL SERVICE. 

As a part of the war history of Missouri, the /military hospitals of St. 
Louis claim at least a brief mention. After the battle of Wilson's Creek 
it became apparent that the government provision for hospitals was 
entirely inadequate to the emergency. A voluntary organization, called 
the Western Sanitary Commission, was formed, consisting of James E. 
Yeatman (now of the Merchant's National Bank), Rev. Wm. G. Eliot, D. 
D., (now Chancellor of Washington University), George Partridge, 
(recently Vice President of Trustees of State Blind Asylum), Carlos S. 
Greeley and John B. Johnson. Their purpose was to receive and distrib- 
ute hospital supplies furnished by the people, and in every practicable way 
aid and co-operate with the military authorities in the care of the sick and 
wounded. The first woman regularly mustered into the United States 
service as a hospital nurse, in Missouri, was Mrs. F. R. H. Reid, M. D., 
from Wisconsin, (now resides at Des Moines, Iowa). She was the 
woman coadjutor of U. S. Surgeon, Dr. Mills, in opening and starting the 
first large volunteer hospital, which was known as the Chestnut street 
hospital; and afterward she took the same part in the Fourth street hos- 
pital; and also with Dr. Melchior in the Marine hospital; also in a tem- 
porary post hospital at Su'phur Springs. 

To give an idea of the largeness of the hospital work, we quote from a 
circular printed at St. Louis, Nov. 22, 1861,* which says: "There are 
ten military hospitals in St. Louis alone, with a maximum capacity for 
3,500 patients. The number of patients varies every day, but on Wednes- 
day, November 20th, they reported patients under treatment as follows: 

House of Refuge hospital, [Sisters of Charity nurses] 475 

Fifth and Chestnut streets hospital,, 464 

Good Samaritan hospital, [for measles,] 173 

Fourth street hospital, 328 

Jefferson barracks hospital 72 

Arsenal hospital, 16 

Camp Benton hospital, 106 

Pacific hospital, [depot for the hospital cars] 30 

~\incan's Island hospital, [for small-pox: cases all convalescent,] .... 4 
Convalescent barracks, [known as Camp Benton,] 800 

Total, 2,468 

"(This does not include the company, regiment and brigade hospitals, 
of which there are several.) The average mortality has been about four 
per cent. A hospital car, properly fitted up and manned, passes daily 
over the railroad to the interior, to bring in the sick and wounded. The 
arrangements for decent burial, registration of deaths, identification, etc., 

♦Prepared and published by H. A. Reid, Associate Member for Wisconsin of the U. S. 
Sanitary Commission. 



64 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

are very complete. The body of any soldier who may die in any of the 
hospitals may be identified, and removed for other obsequies or burial by 
relatives or friends. There are no hospital chaplains; but nurses are in- 
structed by the sanitary commission, that every patient who asks for it, 
will be visited by a clergyman of his own choice, at any hour." 

There were hospitals also at Jefferson City, Rolla and Ironton at this 
time. This circular contained a classified list, prepared by Mrs. Reid, of 
over a hundred different articles needed for the care, comfort and welfare 
of the soldiers in hospital, beyond what the general government could 
furnish; the whole document was reprinted by state authority at Madison, 
Wisconsin, and widely circulated. In a letter dated St. Louis, Jan. 14, 
1862, Mr. Yeatman said: "Wisconsin has contributed most largely to- 
wards supplying comforts for the sick in camps and hospitals in this 
department, second to but one other state — Massachusetts. " 

There was a prison hospital for sick Confederate prisoners, to whom 
supplies were furnished from the stores of the sanitary commission, the 
same as to the Union soldiers; and wounded Confederates were cared for 
in the general hospitals the same as those of the Federal troops. The 
writer hereof was an eye-witness to this fact; and is glad to record it as a 
testimony of the true Christian spirit of the sanitary commission and the 
magnanimity of the Federal authorities. 

THE WARTIME STATE GOVERNMENT. 

The civil authority of the state remained vested in the state conven- 
tion from July, 1861, until July, 1863. This provisional body held the 
following sessions: 

1861— Jefferson City, February 28 to March 4. 
St. Louis, March 6 to March 22. 
Jefferson City, July 22 to July 81. 
St. Louis, October 10 to October 18. 

1862— Jefferson City, June 2 to June 14. 

1863— Jefferson City, June 15 to July 1, when it adjourned sine die. 

The course of affairs had now become so far settled and pacified that 
civil proceedings were again possible, and the regular fall elections were 
held this year, 1863. On the 13th of February, 1864, the general assem- 
bly convened, and passed an act to authorize, the election of sixty-six 
members to a state convention, "to consider such amendments to the con- 
stitution of the state as might by it be deemed necessary for the emanci- 
pation of slaves;* to preserve in purity the elective franchise to loyal 
citizens, and for the promotion of the public good." 

This convention met in St. Louis, January 6, 1865; and on the 11th of 

* President Lincoln's emancipation proclamation, January 1, 1863, only applied to slaves 
within such states or parts of states as were then controlled by the Confederate power. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



65 



the same month it passed, by a vote of sixty ayes to four noes, an ordi- 
nance emancipating all slaves within the state, and providing that it 
should take effect immediately. The convention also framed a new con- 
stitution, in many respects quite different from the old one. The final 
vote in convention on the new instrument stood thirty-eight for, to thirteen 
against it. The convention adjourned April 10, sine die. In June the 
people voted on the new constitution, and the vote stood 43,670 for, to 
41,808 against it. 

The following are some of the most notable new features embodied in 
the organic law of the state, and will readily explain why there was such 
a large vote against its adoption: It established an oath of loyalty to the 
United States; and those who would not take the oath it excluded from 
the right to vote or hold any civil office whatever, or act as a teacher in 
any public school, or to solemnize marriage as a clergyman, or to practice 
law in any of the courts. It limited the amount of land which any church 
or religious society might hold to five acres of land in the country, or one 
acre in town or city; provided for taxing church property; and declared 
void any will bequeathing property to any clergyman, religious teacher 
or religious society as such. There was a section designed to prevent 
the state from giving public property, lands or bonds, to railroad compa- 
nies. It provided that after January 1, 1S76, no one could become a law- 
ful voter who was not sufficiently educated to be able to read and write. 

July 1, 1865, the governor, Thomas C. Fletcher, made proclamation 
that the new constitution had been duly ratified by a lawful majority of 
the people, and was thenceforth the organic law of the state. A few 
amendments have been since adopted; but in all important points it 
remains the same to this day. 




6Q HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



PART II.— PHYSICAL AND INDUSTRIAL. 



GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. 

The geological history of Missouri commences at the very bottom of 
the scale, or, in what may be termed the fire-crust period of geologic 
time. (See chart on page 67). Dana's "Manual of Geology" is the 
great standard work all over the United States on this subject. In his 
chapter on Archaean Time he gives a map and brief sketch of our North 
American continent as it existed at that remote period, which was, 
according to a calculation made for the Royal Society of London in 1879,* 
about 600,000,000 years ago. And as this is where Missouri first comes 
to light, we quote Prof. Dana's account of the very meagre areas and 
points of our continent which stood alone above the primeval ocean that 
then enveloped the entire globe with its bubbling, seething, sputtering 
wavelets — an enormous caldron of boiling, steaming silicious lye, rather 
than water. Dana says: 

" The principal of the areas is The Great JYorthern, nucleal to the con- 
tinent, lying mostly in British America, and having the shape of the letter 
V, one "arm reaching northeastward to Labrador, and the other north- 
westward from Lake Superior to the Arctic. The region appears to 
have been for the most part out of water ever since the Archaean era.f 
To this area properly belong the Adirondack area, covering the larger 
part of northern New York, and a Michigan area south of Lake Supe- 
rior, each of which was probably an island in the continental sea before 
the Silurian age began. 

" Beside this nucleal area, there are border-mountain lines of Archaean 
rocks: a long Appalachian line, including the Highland Ridge of Dutch- 
ess county, New York, and New Jersey, and the Blue Ridge of Penn- 
sylvania "and Virginia; a long Rocky Mountain series, embracing the 
Wind River mountains, the Laramie range and other summit ridges of 
the Rocky Mountains. In addition, in the eastern border region, there is 
an Atlantic coast range, consisting of areas in New Foundland, Nova 
Scotia and eastern New England. In the western border region, a 
Pacific coast range in Mexico; and several more or less isolated areas in 
the Mississippi basin, west of the Mississippi, as in Missouri, Arkansas, 
Texas, and the Black Hills of Dakota." — Dana's Manual, p. 150. 

*See Popular Science Monthly, May, 1879, p. 137. 

■f-The "Archaean era," as used by Prof. Dana, in 1874, (the date of his latest revision) 
included both the "Azoic Age," and "Age of Zooliths," as shown on the chart, p. 67. When 
Prof. Dana wrote, it was still an open question whether the "eozoon" was of animal or 
mineral origin ; but the highest authorities are now agreed that it was animal ; and Prof. 
Reid has, therefore, very properly given it a distinct place in his " Zoic Calendar." 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



67 



GEOLOGICAL CHART; 

Including the Rock Scale of Geological Periods and the " Zoic Calendar of Creation." Compiled 
from the works of Agassiz, Lyell, Huxley, Hackel, Dana, LeConte, and other first rank authorities in 
Science at the present time. By Hibajc A. Reid, Secretary State Academy of Sciences at Dcs Moines , 
Iowa. [Published by permission of the Author.] 



Explanation. — The side line 
at the left shows what portions of 
geological time are comprehended 
in the terms ••eozoic," " paleo- 
zoic," etc . The first column 
shows the periods or '•Ages" of 
geological time during which the 
different successive types of ani- 
mal life predominated, or were the 
highest types then in existence. 
And these two divisions form the 
"Zoic Calendar of Creation." 

The second column shows the 
great general groupings of rock 
strata.in which are found the fossil 
remains of the corresponding ani- 
mal types named in th>; first col- 
umn. But, at the "Age of Rep- 
tiles" occurs a grand divergement, 
for it was during this age that an- 
imal life pushed out into its most 
wonderful developments ; and 
there came into existence strange 
and marvelous forms of swimming 
reptile*, four-footed and two-foot- 
ed walking reptiles, and two-foot- 
ed and four-footed flying reptiles. 
Here also the true bird* began to 
appear, though with reptilian pe- 
culiarities; and likewise the mar- 
supial anima'.s, which are a tran- 
sitional type, between reptiles 
that produce their young by laving 
esas and the true mammals, that 
bring forth their young well ma- 
tured and then suckle them. 

The third column shows the les- 
ser groupings of rock beds as clas- 
sified by our American geologists; 
but many minor subdivisions and 
local groups are omitted lor want 
of space. At the top of this col- 
nmn are shown the geological pe- 
riods of first appearance ol races 
of man. so far as now authentica- 
ted by competent scientific au- 
thorities.* 

The fourth column shows the 
number of feet in thickness of the 
different groups of rock layers as 
indicated by the braces. 

This Chart is the most compre- 
hensive and thorough in its de- 
tails, and yet the most systemati- 
cally and graphically presented to 
the ejc, of anything in its line 
that has ever yet been published. 
Here is the whole story of geol- 
ogy and the ascent of life con- 
densed into the space of a few 
inches, yet so plainly set forth as 
to readily fix itself in the memory 
like an "outline map. Scientific 
terms in newspapers and maga- 
zines often catch the reader at a 
disadvantage; but a reference to 
this chart will at once show the 
relative place or period in crea- 
tional progress to which the best 
authorized geological terms apply. 
It reaches, like a Jacob's ladder, 
from the lowest inklings to the 
highest ideals of life on the earth, 
as taught by modern science and 
the Christian Bible. 



THIS CALENDAR IS TO BE READ FROM THE BOTTOM UPWARD. 



AGE OF ANGELS. 



ee Psalms 8:5 LukeM:3S 
Mark li:-:5 1 Cor.l5:« 
Heb.2:2to9 ReT.22:S,9 



-A.gre of 

MAX. 



Age of 
MAMMALS 



Age of 



Reptiles. 



Age of 
Amphibians 



Age of 
FISHES 



AGE 



OF 



i:.' VERTEBRATES 



Recent. 



Quaternary. 



TERTIARY. 




HISTORIC 'i.^TStJr™ 
PERIOD. x s Tribe« 



MYTHIC 
PERIOD. 



Rude Agricul 



Terrace Epoch. *^ s 



Ctu 



iplain Epoch, p* 



GLACIAL EPOCH. 



Pliocene. 



Miocene. 



Feet in 

thickness 
o f t h e 
geological 
group* of 
rock form- 
ations. 



m 



8,000 



Eocene. 



Cretaceous. [ 9,000 

___ J 

1 800 to 

\ 1.000 



JURASSIC. 



TRIASSIC 



J.3,000 to 
I 5,000 



Carboniferous 



Devonian. 



Upper Silurian. 



Lower Silurian, 



AGE of ZOOLITHS 

"This Age alone was 
probably longer in dura- 
tion than all subsequent 
jeolozical time." — Pbop. 
LeCONTE. 



w Primordial Vegetation 



Eozoon RocKs. 



Graphite Beds. 



PERMIAN. 



Coal 

1 6,000 to 

Measures. ! 14 -s™ 



Sub-Carboniferous, i 



Catskill. 



CbttMsng. 



Hamilton. 



! 9,050 to 
14,400 



Comiferous. 



! 6,000 to 
10,000 






Laurentian. 



i la.oonto 

- J 15,000 

J 

ilO.OOOto 
\ tJO.OOO 

"I 



:„,,.;, 



Metamorphic Granites 



FIRE CRUST. 




- Un.*rati- 
' tied. 



Ciprright 1<TJ: H. A. Reid 



f 18 0.0 0,0 0(1 mi in exiling I 
Qt down to 200* F. at the sor- '. Depth 
I face [Prof. Hklstholtz], a j an known. 
I temperature at which very 
low forms of vegetation can 
( exist. J 



*" The existence of Pliocene man in Tuscany ii, then, in nr opinion, an 
Beries, Vol. XXVII, p. 151. "The Miocene man of La Beau ■- already knew the use of fire, and worked flint." — lb. p. ■:'■»->. See also. Prof. 
Winchell's "Pre-Adamites." pp. 42$-"-$ . " The hsman race in America is ihown to be at lesut of as ancient a date as that of the European 
Pliocene."— Prof. J, D.Whitney, Similar views ar» held by Profs. Leily, Marsh, Cope, Morse, Wyman, and other scientist! of highest repute. 



•r-aitidc fact." — See Appletons' International Scientific 
- the use of fire, and worked flint." 



68 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

Thus, then, with the very first emergence of dry land out of the heav- 
ily saturated and steaming mineral waters of the primeval ocean, we have 
Pilot Knob, Shepherd Mountain, and a few smaller peaks in their vicin- 
ity, forming an island in the vast expanse. The next nearest island was 
a similar one at the Black Hills, in Dakota. There is no reason as yet 
known 6or believing that any form of life, either animal or vegetable, had 
yet appeared in our Missouri region. The ocean water was still too hot, 
and still too powerfully surcharged with mineral salts, alkalis and acids 
to admit of any living tissues being formed; and the atmosphere was in 
like manner thickly loaded with deadliest acids in the form of vapors, 
which would partially condense as they arose, and fall upon the iron- 
headed islands to form a mineral crust, and then be broken and washed 
back into the sea. But this process being kept up and incessantly 
repeated for millions of years (see Prof. Helmholtz's estimate at bottom 
of the chart), both sea and air became gradually purified of its excess of 
minerals and acids; and the water sufficiently Cooled to admit of living 
tissues being formed; and meanwhile the condensing and crust-forming- 
elements precipitated from the vapor-laden air or deposited directly from 
the bulk waters of the shoreless sea, were busily forming the solid earth. 
The different incrustations would each be a little different in their com- 
ponent elements; and then being broken up and mixed together and 
recombined, partly in the form of rough fragments, partly in the form of 
dust or sand ground into this state by mechanical attrition, partly in the 
form of fluidized or vaporized solutions, and partly in the form of molten 
masses produced directly by the earth's internal fires, the process of com- 
bining and recombining, with continual variation in the proportions, went 
on through the long, dreary, sunless and lifeless Azoic Age. 

But as soon as the great ocean caldron got cooled down to about 200 
degrees Fahrenheit, it was then possible for a very low form of vegetation 
to exist; and although no fossil remains of the first existing forms of such 
vegetation have yet been found, or at least not conclusively identified as 
such, yet graphite or plumbago, the material from which our lead pencils 
are made, is found in connection with the transition rocks between the 
Azoic and the Zoolithian ages. Graphite is not a mineral at all, but is 
pure vegetable carbon, and is supposed to be the remnant carbon of these 
first and lowest forms of tough, leathery, flowerless sea-weeds. Some 
small deposits of graphite are reported to have been found in connection 
with the iron and metamorphic granites of our Pilot Knob island; and 
that would indicate the first organic forms that came into existence within 
the boundaries of what now we call the state of Missouri. Just think of 
it! All North America, except a dozen widely scattered spots or islands, 
was covered with an ocean that spread its seamy expanse all around 
the globe; no sunlight could penetrate the thick, dense cloud of vapors 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 69 

that filled the enveloping atmosphere ; according to our English author- 
before cited, this was 600,000,000 years ago, a period which the human 
mind cannot grasp; but the Almighty Maker of worlds had even then 
commenced to make the state of Missouri and its living occupants. 

The earliest known forms of animal life, a kind of coral-making rhizo- 
pod (root-footed) called Eozoon Canadcnse, are not found in Missouri, but 
are found abundantly in what are called the Laurentian rocks, in Canada 
and elsewhere. (See chart). It is not to be supposed, however, that the 
enormous period called the " Age of Zooliths " passed, with forms of ani- 
mal life existing in Canada, but none in our iron island region, unless we 
assume that the mineral acidity of the waters coming in contact with this 
island was so intense as to require all that vast period for its purification 
sufficiently to permit the existence of the lowest and most structureless 
forms of protoplasmic matter known to science. Prof. Swallow says, in 
writing on the Physical Geography of Missouri, " below the magnesian 
limestone series we have a series of metamorphosed slates, which are 
doubtless older than the knozun fossiliferoas strata; whether they belong to 
the Azoic, the Laurentian or Huronian, I am unable to say." 

The labors of our different state geologists have not discovered any 
fossil remains in Missouri lower down in the rock scale than what is called 
the " Lower Silurian " formations, which form the first half of the 
" Age of Invertebrates " in the zoic-calendar portion of Prof. Reid's chart. 
The term " Invertebrates " includes all forms of animal life that do not 
have a back-bone, such as polyps, mollusks, worms, insects, crustaceans, 
infusoria, etc. By the time this age (Silurian) had commenced, our lone 
island had been joined by large areas northward, southwestward, eastward 
and northwestward, so that there began to be a continent; and several 
hundred species of animals and plants have been found fossil in the rocks 
of this period, but they are all marine species — none yet inhabiting the 
dry land. Our chart shows the Lower Silurian epoch sub-divided into 
Cambrian, Canadian and Trenton formations; but there are other local 
sub-divisions belonging to this period, the same as to all the other general 
periods named on the chart. The animals of this period were polvps or 
coral- makers; worms, mollusks, trilobites,asterias (star-fishes), all of strange 
forms and now extinct. The trilobite, some species of which are found in 
Missouri, was the first animal on the earth which had eyes, although 
there were likewise a great many eyeless species of them; but the fact 
that any of them had eyes during this age is considered by some scientists 
to prove that the atmosphere had by this time become sufficiently rarefied 
to let the sunlight penetrate clearly through it and strike the earth. On 
the other hand, others hold that this did not occur until after the atmos- 
phere had laid down its surcharge of carbonic acid and other gases, in the 
forms of limestone from animal life and coalbeds from vegetable life; that 



70 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

is, there was nothing which we would now consider as clear sunshine 
until the carboniferous period. At any rate, Prof. Dana says of the 
Lower Saurian, "there was no green herbage over the exposed hills; 
and no sounds were in the air save those of lifeless nature, — the moving- 
waters, the tempest and the earthquake." Having thus given the reader 
some idea of the beginnings of land and the beginnings of life in our old, 
old state, space will not permit us to linger with details upon the remain- 
ing geological periods. We have compiled the following table from vari- 
ous writings of our able state geologist, Prof. G. C. Swallow, of the State 
University : 

ROCK FORMATIONS OF MISSOURI. 

Igneous Rocks. — Granite, porphyry, syenite, greenstone, combined 
with those wonderful beds of iron and copper which are found in the 
Pilot Knob region. 

Azoic Rocks. — Silicious and other slates, containing no remains of 
organic life, though apparently of sedimentary and not of igneous origin. 

Lower Silurian— Feet thick. 

Hudson river group (3 local subdivisions) 220 

Trenton limestone 360 

Black-river and birds- eye limestone 75 

1st magnesian limestone 200 

Saccharoidal (sugar-like) sandstone 125 

2d magnesian limestone 230 

2d sandstone 115 

3d magnesian limestone 350 

3d sandstone 60 

4th magnesian limestone 300 



Total thickness of Silurian rocks 2035 

When the reader remembers that these were -all formed successively 
by the slow process of the settling of sediment in water, he will get some 
idea of how it is that geology gives such astounding measurements of 
time. 

Upper Silurian — Feet thick. 

Lower Helderberg formation 350 

Niagara group 200 

Cape Girardeau limestone 60 

Total thickness 610 



history of the state of missouri. 71 

Devonian — 

( Chouteau limestone 85 

Chemung group 1 Vermicular sandstone and shales 75 

( Lithographic limestone 125 

Hamilton group 40 

Onondaga limestone (extremely variable). 
Oriskany sandstone (doubtful'. 
Carboniferous — 

Coal measures, consisting of strata of sandstones, limestones, 
shales, clays, marls, brown iron ores and coal 2,000 

In this formation there are from eight to ten good workable veins of 
coal; and the Missouri basin coal-bearing area is the largest in the world. 
It comprises the following: 

Square miles. 

In Missouri 27,000 

Nebraska 10,000 

Kansas 12,000 

Iowa 20,000 

Illinois 30,000 

Total 99,000 

The Sub-Carboniferous in Missouri is subdivided into: 

Feet. 

Upper Archimedes limestone 200 

Ferruginous (irony) sandstone '. 195 

Middle Archimedes limestone 50 

St. Louis limestone 250 

Oolitic limestone 25 

Lower Archimedes limestone 350 

Encrinital limestone 500 

Total sub-carboniferous 1570 

Cretaceous. — The Triassic and Jurassic formations have not been found 
in this state; but Prof. Swallow has classed as probably belonging to the 
Cretaceous epoch, six different formations which comprise a total thick- 
ness of 158 feet. He says no fossils have been found to certainly identify 
these beds, but their geological horizon and lithological characters deter- 
mine their place in the scale. 

Tertiary. — The beautiful variegated sands and clays and shales and 
iron ores, which skirt the swamps of southeast Missouri along the bluffs 
from Commerce to the Chalk Bluffs in Arkansas, belong to this system. 
Quaternary. — In this Prof. Swallow includes what is separated under 



72 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

the name of "Recent" by Prof. Dana and others, as shown in the chart. 

The Quaternary of Missouri is subdivided by Prof. Swallow into — 

Alluvium 30 feet 

Bottom Prairie 35 " 

Bluff {Loess of other authors) 200 " 

Drift (altered drift, boulder beds, boulder clay) 155 " 

Total Quaternary formations. 420 " 

That brings the succession of geological formations consecutively from 
their beginning up to the present time; and now our own eyes behold 
every day the processes of nature going on very much the same as they 
have gone along through all the unthinkable lapse of time that has passed 
since Pilot Knob first pushed its brazen brow up above the strange deso- 
lation of waters when "darkness was upon the face of the deep." And 
now our next consideration must be, the present aspects of the land sur- 
face of our state, together with its streams, its woodlands and its wonder- 
ful mineral wealth and resources. 

MINERAL RESOURCES. 

In the extent, variety, and practical value of her stores of mineral 
wealth, Missouri is not excelled by any other state in the Union. In the 
fall of 1880 the New York Economist published an article on Missouri, 
in which it said: 

"The state of Missouri is one of the most remarkable pieces of this earth's 
surface. Surface indeed ! Missouri goes far enough under the surface 
to furnish mankind with one hundred million tons of coal a year for thir- 
teen hundred years. Think of 26*887 square miles of coal beds — nearly 
half the state — and some of the beds nearly fifteen feet thick. With 
regard to iron, it is not necessary to penetrate the surface for that. They 
have iron in Missouri by the mountain. Pilot Knob, 581 feet high, and 
containing 360 acres, is a mass of iron; and Iron Mountain, about six 
miles distant from it, is 228 feet high, covers 500 acres, and is estimated 
in the last surveys, to contain 230,000,000 tons of ore, without counting 
the inexhaustible supply that may reasonably be supposed to exist below 
the level. There is enough iron lying about loose in Missouri for a 
double track of railroad across the continent. 

" The lead districts of Missouri include more than 6,000 square miles, 
and at least five hundred points where it can be profitably worked. In 
fifteen counties there is copper in rich abundance. There are large depos- 
its of zinc in the state. There is gold, also, which does not yet attract 
much attention, because of the dazzling stores of this precious metal farther 
west. In short, within one hundred miles of St. Louis the following met- 
als and minerals are found in quantities that will repay working: gold, 
iron, lead, zinc, copper, tin, silver, platina, nickel, emery, coal, limestone, 
granite, marble, pipe-clay, fire-clay, metallic paints, and salt." 

It can hardly be said that gold, silver, tin, platina or emery have been 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 73 

found in faying quantity as yet, although they are known to exist in some 
of our mining districts, in combinations with other minerals. Our state 
board of immigration has published many well prepared and judicious 
papers on the various advantages and resources of our state, which care- 
fully avoid making any extravagant or overdrawn statements. They 
give the real facts as accurately as they could be ascertained up to 1879- 
SO, and form the most reliable body of knowledge on many matters of 
state interest, that is now accessible; and from this source we gather the 
more essential points. 

Coal. — The Missouri coal fields underlie an area of about 26,000 
square miles. The southern outcrop of the coal measures has been traced 
from the mouth of the Des Moines through the counties of Clark, Lewis, 
Shelby , t Monroe, Audrain, Boone, Cooper, Pettis, Henry, St. Clair, Bates, 
Vernon and Barton, into the Indian Territory, and every county north- 
west of this line is known to contain more or less coal. Outside of the 
coal fields given above, coal rocks also exist in Ralls, Montgomery, War- 
ren, St. Charles, Callaway and St. Louis counties, and local or outlying 
deposits of bituminous and cannel coal are found in Moniteau, Cole, Mor- 
gan, Crawford, Lincoln and Callaway counties. 

The exposed coal in Missouri includes upper, middle and lower coal 
measures. The upper coal measures contain about four feet of coal, in 
two seams of about one foot each and other thin seams and streaks. The 
area of their exposure is about 8,400 square miles. 

The middle coal measures contain about seven feet of coal, including 
two workable seams, twenty-one and twenty-four inches thick, respect- 
ively, and one of one foot, which is worked under favorable circumstan- 
ces, and six thin seams. The exposure of the middle measures covers an 
area of over 2,000 square miles. 

The lower measures cover an ar,ea of about 15,000 square miles, and 
have five workable seams, varying in thickness from eighteen inches to 
four and a half feet, and thin seams of six to eleven inches. 

Iron. — It has been said by experts that Missouri has iron enough ' : to 
run a hundred furnaces for a thousand years;" and the ores are of every 
variety known to metallurgical science. Iron Mountain is the largest 
body of specular iron and the purest mass of ore in the world. It was 
forced up through the crust of the earth in a molten state during the 
Azoic Age of geology. The different ores of the state are classed as red 
hematite, red oxide, specular or glittering ore, brown hematite or limo- 
nite, hvdrous oxide, magnetic ore, and spathic or spar-like ore (carbonate 
of iron). Many other names are used to indicate different combinations 
of iron with other minerals. Some of the iron deposits, instead of coming 
up in a fused mass from the bowels of the earth, as Pilot Knob, Shep- 
5 



74 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

herd Mountain and Iron Mountain evidently did, were formed by the 
steam that attended those fiery upheavals, carrying its load of gaseous 
matter until it condensed and settled down at different points, and gradu- 
ally cooled or crystalized. This would occur sometimes in water and 
sometimes in the air, thus producing the great variety of ferruginous or 
irony compositions which we now find and utilize. And this mineral 
sieam method of depositing iron and other products from subterranean 
gases must have occurred in Missouri at different periods of geologic 
time, and not all during the Azoic. The red ores are found in 21 coun- 
ties ; the brown hematite or limonite iron ores extend over 94 counties, 
and in 31 of them it occurs in vast quantity. 

Shepherd Mountain is 660 feet high. The ore, which is magnetic and 
specular, contains a large percentage of pure iron. The hight of Pilot 
Knob above the Mississippi river is 1,118 feet. Its base, 581 feet from the 
summit, is 360 acres. The iron is known to extend 440 feet below the 
surface. The upper section of 141 feet is judged to contain 14,000,000 
tons of ore. The elevation of Iron Mountain is 228 feet, and the area of 
its base 500 acres. The solid contents of the cone are 230,000,000 tons. 
It is thought that every foot beneath the surface will yield 3,000,000 tons, 
of ore. At the depth of 180 feet, an artesian auger is still penetrating 
solid ore. Dr. Litton thinks that these mountains contain enough iron 
above the surface to afford for two hundred years an annual supply of 
1,000,000 tons. The ore is almost exclusively specular. It yields 56 per 
cent, of pure iron. The iron is strong, tough and fibrous. 

Profs. Schmidt and Pumpelly, in their very learned work on the iron 
ores of Michigan and Missouri, have classified the iron-bearing region of 
our state as follows: 

Eastern Ore-Region. — 1. Ore-district along the Mississippi river. 2_ 
Iron Mountain district. 3. Southeastern limonite district. 4. Franklin 
county district. 5. Scotia district. 

Central Ore-Region. — 1. Steel ville district. 2. Ore-district on the up- 
per Meramec and its tributaries. 3. Salem district. 4. Iron Ridge 
district. 5. St. James district. 6. Rolla district. 7. Middle Gasconade 
district. 8. Lower Gasconade district. 9. Callaway county district. 

Western Ore-Region. — 1. Lower Osage district. 2. Middle Osage 
district. 3. Upper Osage district. 

Southwestern Ore-Region. — 1. White River district. 2. Ozark county 
district. 

The same authorities have classified the various kinds of iron ores 
found in Missouri, thus: 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 75 



Strata of red hematite. 

Disturbed or drifted deposits of red 

hematite. 
Deposits of limonite on limestone. 
Disturbed or drifted deposits o£ 

limonite. 



Deposits of specular ore in por- 
phyry. 

Deposits of specular ore in sand- 
stone. 

Disturbed deposits of specular ore. 

Drifted deposits of specular ore. 

Lead. — The annual lead product of Missouri is said now to exceed 
that of any other state or country; and it is conceded that its lead deposits 
are the richest in the world. The lead region all lies south of the Mis- 
souri river; the mineral is found chiefly in the magnesian limestone rocks, 
which are the great lead-bearing rocks of the world; but it is also found 
in ferruginous clays, in slates, in gravel beds, and in cherty masses in 
the clays. 

Mr. R. O. Thompson, mining engineer, of St. Louis, has written a 
sketch of the mode of origin of our lead and some other mineral deposits,, 
which is plain, concise, and a clear statement of the teachings of science 
on this very interesting portion of Missouri's geological and mineralogicai 
history. We quote: 

"The Azoic rocks in this region, when the great Silurian system began 
to be formed, were so many islands, their heads only elevated above the 
vast sedimentary sea. The beds upon which the limestones and sand- 
stones were deposited consisted of the weatherings of the Azoic rocks,, 
which naturally sought the valleys and became a base for the sedimentary 
rock. This boundless sea held in solution lime, magnesia, alumina, man- 
ganese, lead, copper, cobalt, nickel, iron, and other mineral substances. 
In this chemical condition gases were evolved and the work of formation 
commenced. The two gases forming the great creative power, and aiding 
solidification, were carbonic acid and sulphuretted hydrogen ; the former 
seeking its affinity in lime and forming limestone; the sulphur in the latter 
naturally combining with the other metals, forming sulphates, or sulphur- 
ets. The work of deposition and solidification being in harmony, it is 
easy to understand how those minerals exist in a disseminated condition 
in these rocks. The slates that we find so rich in galena, presenting the 
myriad forms of lingula, must also have been formed in the Silurian Age. 
The distribution among the magnesian limestones of these decomposing 
slates can be most easily accounted for. The decomposed feldspar pro- 
duced by the weathering of the porphyry became in its change a silicate 
of alumina, and the sulphur, combining with the lead, disseminated the 
same in the slate as readily as in the limestone." 

The Missouri lead region has been divided or classified into five sub- 
districts, as follows: 

I. The Southeastern Lead District, embraces all or parts of Jefferson, 
Washington, Franklin, Crawford, Iron, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, 
Madison, Wayne, Reynolds, and Carter counties, with some mines in the 
western portion of Cape Girardeau county. Mining has been longest 
carried on in this district, and the aggregate of the production has been 
very great, although the work has been chiefly surface mining. Mine- 



76 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

La-Motte, in this district, was discovered in 1720, by Francis Renault and 
M. LaMotte, and has been worked more or less ever since. 

II. The Central Lead District, comprises, as far as known, the coun- 
ties of Cole, Cooper, Moniteau, Morgan, Miller, Benton, Maries, Camdem 
and Osage. Much of the mining done here, again, has been near the 
surface, the lead first being found in clays, in caves, and in masses in clay 
but a few inches below the surface. Shafts, however, sunk in the mag- 
nesian limestone, find rich deposits in lodes and pockets. 

III. The Southern Lead District, comprises the counties of Pulaski, 
La Clede, Texas, Wright, Webster, Douglas, Ozark, and Christian. 

IV. The Western Lead District embraces Hickory, Dallas, Polk, St. 
Clair, Cedar, and Dade counties. Some rich deposits have been found 
in this district, especially in Hickory county. 

V. The Southwestern Lead District comprises Jasper, Newton, Law- 
rence, Stone, Barry, and McDonald. Here very extensive mining has 
been done, more especially in the two counties first named, which have, 
for the last few years, produced more than one-half of the pig-lead mined 
in the state. 

For several years past more than one-half the lead production of the 
United States has been from Missouri mines. Besides the numerous- 
smelting works supported by them, the manufacture of white lead, lead 
pipe, sheet lead, etc., contributes materially to the industries and com- 
merce of the state. 

Copper. — Several varieties of copper ore exist in Missouri mines. 
Deposits of copper have been discovered in Dent, Crawford, Benton, 
Maries, Greene, Lawrence, Dade, Taney, Dallas, Phelps, Reynolds and 
Wright counties. Some of the mines in Shannon county are now profit- 
ably worked, and mines in Franklin county have yielded good results. 

Zinc. — Sulphuret, carbonate and silicate of zinc are found in nearly all 
the lead mines of southwestern Missouri; and zinc ores are also found in 
most of the counties along the Ozark range. What the lead miners call 
" black-jack, " and throw away, is sulphuret of zinc. Newton and Jasper 
counties are rich in zinc ores ; and Taney county has an extensive vein of 
calamine, or carbonate of zinc. 

Cobalt. — Valuable to produce the rich blue colors in glass and porce- 
lain, and for other purposes in the arts, is found in considerable quantities 
at Mine-La-Motte. 

Manganese. — Used in glass manufacture and the arts; it is found in 
St. Genevieve and other counties. 

Nickel. — Found in workable quantities at Mine-La-Motte. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 77 

BUILDING STONE. 

Missouri abounds in solid, durable materials for buildings; she has 
quarries of red and gray granites, and very fine limestones, sandstones 
and marbles. In Crawford, Washington and Franklin counties there are 
workable beds of " onyx marble," a stalagmite formation found in caves,, 
and very rich and valuable for mantles, table-tops, vases, ornaments, etc. 
This marble is not found anywhere else in the United States, and has 
been imported from Algiers and Mexico, at great cost. As an illustration 
of the high repute abroad, and substantial home value ot Missouri 
products in the stone line, we give a case in point. 

The new state capitol at Des Moines, Iowa, which will cost $3,000,000, 
and is said to be the largest and finest public edifice in the United States 
outside of Washington city, is built mostly of materials from Missouri, 
except the rough masonry and brickwork. The Missouri stones and 
their cost is as follows: 

St. Genevieve buff sandstone $ 147,289.83 

Carroll county blue limestone 139,238.54 

Fourteen red granite columns, 18 feet, 4^ inches long, 2 

ft. 3 in. diameter, turned and polished at St. Louis... . 8,144.50 



Total paid b}* Iowa to Missouri on thfs one building. . $ 294,672.87 

Other examples of Missouri building stone will be of interest. The 
Archimedes limestone is used for the U. S. custom house in St. Louis. 
The encrinital limestone is used for the State University building, and 
court house at Columbia. The Trenton limestone is used in the court 
house at St. Louis. A stratum called " cotton rock" in the magnesian 
limestone formation, is used for the state house and court house at Jeffer- 
son City. Encrinital marble is found in Marion county, and other varie- 
ties occur in Cooper, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Iron and Ozark coun- 
ties. In the bluffs on the Niangua, a marble crops out twenty feet thick, 
which is a fine-grained, crystaline, silico-magnesian limestone, of a light 
drab color, slightly tinged or clouded with peach blossom. Some of the 
beautiful Ozark marbles have been used in ornamenting the national 
capitol at Washington. 

Lithographic limestone is found in Macon county. 

EARTHS, CLAYS, OCHRES, ETC. 

Kaolin, or decomposed feldspar, is a clay for making porcelain ware, 
and is found in and shipped from southeastern Missouri. Fine pottery 
clays are found in all the coal bearing region. North of the Missouri 
river many beds of best fire-clay are found, which is extensively manufac- 
tured at St. Louis into fire brick, gas retorts, metallurgists' crucibles, etc. 



78 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

Yellow and red ochres, ferruginous clays, and sulphate of baryta, all val- 
uable in the mannfacture of mineral and fire-proof paints, are found in 
great abundance all through the iron districts. Near St. Genevieve there 
is a bank of saccharoidal sand which is twenty feet in height, and miles 
in extent. The mass is inexhaustible. Two analyses give the following 
results: 

Silica 98.81 99.02 

Lime 0.92 0.98 

The sand is very friable, and nearly as white as snow. It is not oxy- 
dized or discolored by heat, and the glass made from it is clear and 
unstained. One firm in St. Louis has annually exported more than 3,500 
tons of this sand to the glass manufactories of Wheeling, Steubenville 
and Pittsburg. 



GEOGRAPHY OF MISSOURI. 



LOCATION AND AREA. 

The state of Missouri (with the exception of the Pan-Handle, in the 
southeast corner, which extends 34 miles further south), lies between the 
parallels 36 degrees 30 minutes and 40 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, 
and between longitudes 12 degrees 2 minutes, and 18 degrees and 51 min- 
utes west from Washington. Its southern boundary line, extended east- 
ward, would pass along the southern boundaries of Tennessee and Vir- 
ginia. The line of the northern boundary, extended in the same direction, 
w r ould pass north of the centers of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and near the 
centers of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Extending these lines west- 
ward, they would embrace the entire state of Kansas, and a considerable 
portion of Nebraska on the north and of the Indian Territory south. 

The length of the state north and south is 282 miles; its extreme width 
east and west, is 348 miles, and the average width, which is represented 
by a line drawn due west from St. Louis, is 235 miles. 

The area of the state is 65,350 square miles, or 41,824,000 acres. In 
size it is the eighth state in the Union, and is larger than any state east 
of or bordering upon the Mississippi, except Minnesota. It occupies 
almost the exact center of that portion of the United States lying between 
the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic, and is midway between the 
British possessions on the north and the Gulf of Mexico south. 

The following list shows what other large cities of our own and 
foreign countries lie on the same latitude with the largest cities in our 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 70 

state: The latitude of 38 to 39 degrees north, embraces Annapolis, 
Maryland; Washington and Georgetown, D, C; Alexandria, Va.; Ports- 
mouth, Ohio; Lexington, Frankfort and Louisville, Ky.; Madison, New 
Albany and Evansville, Ind.; St. Louis and Jefferson City, Missouri; 
Sacramento and Vallejo, California; Yarkand, China; Tabreez, Persia; 
Smyrna, Turkey; Messina and Palermo, Sicily; Lisbon, Portugal. 

The latitude of 39 to 40 embraces the cities of Philadelphia, Dover, Wil- 
mington, Baltimore, York, Gettysburg, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indiana- 
polis, Terre Haute, Springfield, Quincy, Hannibal, Kansas City, St. 
Joseph, Leavenworth, Denver; Virginia City, Nevada; Marysville, Cali- 
fornia; Tientsin, Pekin and Kashgar, in China; Bokhara in Turkestan; 
Erzroom in Turkey; Valencia in Spain. 

The meridian of 90 to 91 degrees west longitude, takes in Grand 
Portage, Minnesota; Mineral Point, Wisconsin; also Dubuque, Davenport, 
Rock Island, Galesburg, St. Louis, Memphis, Vicksburg and New 
Orleans. 

Missouri is half as large again as New York, and more than eight 
times the size of Massachusetts. It would make a score of German prin- 
cipalities. Larger than England and Wales, or Scotland and Ireland, it 
is equal to one-third of the area of France. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

As explained in the chapter on geology, there occurred away back 
in the earliest geological ages, some subterranean force which pushed up 
through the crust of the earth, a series of knobs and irregular ridges and 
hills in a region extending from St. Genevieve, in a southwest direction, 
to Shannon and Texas counties, taking in some portions of Madison, St. 
Francois, Washington, Iron and Reynolds counties. After this, these 
knobs and ridges were islands in the ocean, which covered the rest of 
Missouri and adjoining states. On the bottom of this ocean the solid 
strata of limestone, sandstone, and other rocks, were formed. In course 
of time the rest of the country was raised above the ocean, and the sur- 
face presented a broad, undulating plateau, from which projected the hills 
and ridges above named. The rains descended upon this plateau, and the 
waters collected into branches, creeks and rivers, and flowed away to the 
ocean, as now; and during the succeeding cycles, the channels and valleys 
of the streams were worn into the rocks as they now appear. These 
facts respecting the formation of our state, give some idea of its surface 
features. It may be described as a broad, undulating table-land or 
plateau, from which projects a series of hills and ridges extending from St. 
Genevieve to the southwest, and into which the branches, creeks and 
rivers have worn their deep broad channels and valleys. In that portion 
of the state north of the Missouri river, the northwest part is the highest, 



80 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

and there is a general descent to the south and east, as shown by the 
course of the Missouri river and its north side tributaries. In the eastern 
part of this region there is a high dividing ridge which separates the 
small east-flowing tributaries of the Mississippi from those flowing south- 
ward into the Missouri; the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern railroad 
follows this highland from Warren and Montgomery counties to Coats- 
ville on the north line of the state, in Schuyler county; and railroad sur- 
veys show that in a straight line across the state, the Missouri river at the 
city of Weston, in Platte county, is 320 feet higher than the Mississippi at 
Hannibal. 

South of the Missouri the highest part is a main ridge extending from 
Jasper county through Lawrence, Webster, Wright, Texas, Dent, Iron, 
St. Francois and Perry counties, striking the Mississippi river at Grand 
Tower. This ridge constitutes what is called the Ozark range, which 
for three-fourths of its course across Missouri is not mountainous, or com- 
posed of peaks, but is an elevated plateau of broad, level, arable land, and 
divides the northward flowing tributaries of the Missouri from the waters 
which flow southward into the lower Mississippi. It is a part of that 
great chain of ridge elevations which begins with Long's Peak, about fifty 
miles northwest of Denver, in Colorado; crosses the state of Kansas 
between the Kansas and Arkansas rivers; crosses Missouri through the 
counties above mentioned; passes into Illinois at Grand Tower and thence 
into Kentucky opposite Golconda; and is finally merged into the Cumber- 
land Mountains. This ridge probably formed the southern shore of that 
vast inland sea into which the upper Missouri and Platte rivers emptied 
their muddy waters for a whole geological age, and deposited over the 
states of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, their sediment from the 
Cretaceous and Tertiary beds of the mountain regions in Dakota, Montana, 
Wyoming, etc., and the "Bad Lands" of northwestern Nebraska. This 
great sea or lake had its chiefs outlet at Grand Tower,* where for 
thousands of years its waters plunged over the rocky limestone ledges 
and flowed off to the Gulf of Mexico, which then extended nearly or quite 
up to the mouth of the Ohio river at Cairo. But as it gradually wore 
down the rocks of this southern high ridge barrier, of course the channel 
through this narrow pass became gradually deeper and deeper, and as 
gradually drained off the mighty lake, leaving four great states covered 
chiefly with a kind of sediment which Prof. Swallow has termed " bluff 

* Dr. Sbumard in his report on a geological section from St. Louis to Commerce, — p. 151, 
says: "The Grand Tower rises from the bed of the Mississippi, an isolated mass of rock, 
of a truncated-conical shape, crowned at the top with stunted cedars, and situated about 
fifty yards from the Missouri shore. It is eighty-five feet high, and four hundred yards 
in circumference at the base. During high water, the current rushes around its base with 
great velocity. * * About half a mile below the Tower, near the middle of the river, is 
a huge mass of chert. * In the next two miles the Missouri shore is bounded by hills 
from 75 to 200 feet in altitude." It is rocky and bluffy for six miles or more along here, 
some of the elevations reaching 330 feet. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 81 

deposit," though called by other writers loess. At Grand Tower, where 
the Mississippi has worn for itself this narrow gorge or pass through the 
rocks, the current rushes and roars and tumbles along at such a mill-flume 
rate, that the passage by boats either up or down stream, is difficult and 
dangerous .* And it was here that the river pirates had their stronghold 
in the early days of keel-boat traffic between St. Louis and New Orleans. 
They permitted no traders to pass this point without paying such tribute 
as they chose to levy; and upon the least show of resistance, they would 
rob, murder and plunder without remedy. If the human history of this 
place could be written, it would be full of blood-curdling incidents, and 
deeds of violence by rude and murderous men. 

The following table of elevations above tide water in the Gulf of Mex- 
ico will give a general idea of the heights reached by this southern 
upland region: 

Granby, Newton county, (farthest southwest) 1,030 feet. 

Marshfield, in Webster county, 96 miles from the west line 

of the state 1,462 " 

Ohio City, opposite mouth of the Ohio river 272 " 

New Madrid, 30 miles farther south 247 " 

St. Louis directrix, (or register) 372 " 

Base of Pilot Knob 909 " 

Top of Pilot Knob 1,490 " 

It will thus be seen that the top of Pilot Knob, at the eastern end of 
our south border highlands, is only twenty-eight feet higher than Marsh- 
field, near the western end. 

RIVERS AND WATER COURSES. 

The Mississippi river bounds the state on the east for a distance of more 
than 500 miles. The Missouri washes the western boundary of the state 
from the northwest corner southwardly, some 250 miles, to the mouth of 
the Kansas, whence it takes a course south of east, through the heart of 
the state to its junction with the Mississippi, a distance of nearly 400 
miles, presenting a river front from these two majestic streams of 1,550 
miles. Besides these mighty streams, are many smaller rivers, more or 
less navigable for steamboats and barges. On the south, or the right 

*A small work published at Davenport, Iowa, in 1856, describes this place as " a gorge 
where the river has in some remote geological age burst through a limestone mountain 
ridge, making a dangerous rocky pass, and washing the cliff into strange, fantastic forms." 
And a western poet nearly 30 years ago, thus described the spot: 

" Here Nature sports with Art in rocky towers, 
Quarried by the wave, or lifts in Doric state 
Abraded pillars to the corniced cliff; 
And through sharp angles, narrows, flume and gorge, 
The wildered waters, plunging, roar and foam — 
o Scylla and Oharybdis of no mythic tale." 



82 HISTORY CF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

bank of the Missouri, the Gasconade, Osage and La Mine are navigable; 
on the Osage, steamboats make regular trips as high as Warsaw, and 
barges and keel-boats may pass as high as the state line. On the left 
bank of the Missouri, the Platte, Chariton and Grand rivers are naviga- 
ble for keel-boats and barges; and small steamers have made a few trips 
on their waters. The other important streams of the state are the Des 
Moines, Salt, Meramec, St. Francis and White rivers, all of which on 
rare occasions have been navigated by steamers. There are large num- 
bers of smaller streams called rivers and creeks. 

There are places in all our streams, except the Mississippi and Missouri, 
where they might be dammed and made to drive the machinery of mills 
and factories. Rock beds to support dams and make them permanent 
are to be found in many localities on the Osage, Niangua, Pomme du 
Terre, Sac, Spring river, Big river, Castor, Bourbeuse, Gasconade, St. 
Francis, Current, White, Grand, La Mine, Meramec, etc. No country is 
better supplied with bold springs of pure water. Many of them are 
remarkable for their size and volume. 

There is, on the whole, no state in the Union better supplied with an 
abundance of wholesome, living water for stock and domestic uses; and 
it abounds in springs, splendidly situated for dairy business, with water at 
a uniform temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. There are no 
lakes in the state except a few small ones in the extreme southeastern 
counties. 

NOTABLE SPRINGS. 

Mineral Springs occur in every part of the state. There are excellent 
salt springs in Cooper, Saline, Howard and adjoining counties. Sulphur 
springs that have become known as places of summer resort, are: The 
Chouteau springs in Cooper county; Monagan springs in St. Clair county; 
Elk springs in Pike county ; Cheltenham springs in St. Louis county. 
And Prof. Swallow says there are sulphur springs in half the counties of 
the state. Sweet springs, on Black water creek, are what are called chaly- 
beate waters, containing some of the salts of iron ; and there are a few 
others of this class. Petroleum or tar springs occur in Carroll, Ray, 
Randolph, Cass, Lafayette, Bates, Vernon, and other counties, and fur- 
nish a good lubricating oil in large quantities. In the south part of the 
State there are numerous fresh water springs of such great flowage as to 
be utilized for water power. One called Bryce's spring, on the Niangua 
river, which runs through Dallas, Hickory and Camden counties, dischar- 
ges 10,927,872 cubic feet of water per day, drives a large flouring mill, 
and flows away a river 42 yards wide. This is the largest one, of these 
big springs. The temperature of its water is steadily at 60 degrees Fahr- 
enheit, and the flowage uniform throughout the year. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 83 

SOILS AND THEIR PRODUCTS. 

As late as 1830 the greater part of Missouri was still marked on com- 
mon school geography maps as part of the great American desert; and in 
1820, even our own great statesman, Thomas H. Benton, had written: 
"After you get 40 or 50 miles from the Mississippi, arid plains set in and 
the country is uninhabitable except upon the borders of the rivers and 
creeks." But our present knowledge of Missouri's climate, soils and prod- 
ucts show how widely mistaken our wisest people were on this subject 
in those early days. 

Prof. Swallow, Dean of the State Agricultural College at Columbia 
(State University), has given the soils of the state a classification adapted 
to the popular understanding, by using names that everybody can read 
and know what they mean, instead of technical scientific terms known 
only to a few who have had a college education. And as this history is 
designed for the masses of the people, and to a large extent for the farm- 
ers, we give a condensed statement of Prof. Swallow's classification. 

Those known as hackbcrry lands are first in fertility and productiveness. 
Upon these lands also grow elm, wild cherry, honey locust, hickorv, white, 
black, burr and chestnut oaks, black and white walnut, mulberry, linden, 
ash, poplar, catalpa, sassafras and maple. The prairie soils of about the 
same quality, if not identical, are known as crow foot lands, so called from 
a species of weed found upon them, and these two soils generally join each 
other where the timber and prairie lands meet. Both rest upon a bed of 
fine silicious marls. They cover more than seven million acres of land. 
On this soil white oaks have been found twenty-nine feet in circumference 
and one hundred feet high; linden twenty-three feet in circumference and 
quite as lofty; the burr oak and sycamore grow still larger. Prairie 
grasses, on the crowfoot lands, grow very rank and tall, and by the old 
settlers were said to entirely conceal herds of cattle from the view. 

The elm lands, are scarcely inferior to the hackberry lands, and pos- 
sess very nearly the same growth of other timber. The soil has about the 
same properties, except that the sand is finer and the clay more abundant 
The same quality of soil appears in the prairie known as the resin-weed 
lands. 

Next in order are hickory lands, with a growth of white and shellbark 
hickory, black, scarlet and laurel oaks, sugar maple, persimmon and the 
haw, red-bud and crab-apple trees of smaller growth. In some portions 
of the state the tulip tree, beech and black gum grow on lands of the same 
quality. Large areas of prairie in the northeast and the southwest have 
soils of nearly the same quality, called mulatto soils. There is also a soil 
lying upon the red clays of southern Missouri similar to the above. These 
hickory lands and those described as assimilating to them, are highly 



84 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

esteemed by the farmers for the culture of corn, wheat and other cereals. 
They are admirably adapted to the cultivation of fruits, and their blue 
grass pastures are equal to any in the state. Their area may be fairly 
estimated at six millions of acres. 

The magncsian limestone soils extend from Callaway county south to 
the Arkansas line, and from Jefferson west to Polk county, an area of 
about ten millions of acres. These soils are dark, warm, light and very 
productive. They produce black and white walnut, black gum, white 
and wahoo elms, sugar maple, honey locust, mulberry, chestnut, post, lau- 
rel, black, scarlet and Spanish oaks, persimmon, blue ash, and many trees 
of smaller growth. They cover all the country underlaid by the magne- 
sian limestone series, but are inconvenient for ordinary tillage when they 
occupy the hillsides or narrow valleys. Among the most fertile soils in 
the state, they produce fine crops of almost all the staples ; and thrifty and 
productive fruit trees and grape vines evince their extraordinary adapta- 
tion and fitness to the culture of the grape and other fruits. 

On the ridges, where the lighter materials of the soil have been washed 
away, or were originally wanting, white oak lands are to be found, the 
oaks accompanied by shellbark and black hickory, and trees and shrubs 
of smaller growth. While the surface soil is not so rich as the hickory 
lands, the sub-soil is quite as good, and the land may be greatly improved 
by turning the sub-soil to the surface. These produce superior wheat, 
good corn, and a very fine quality of tobacco. On these lands fruits are 
abundant and a sure crop. They embrace about ©ne and a half million 
of acres. 

Post oak lands have about the same growth as the white oak lands, 
and produce good crops of the staples of the country, and yield the best 
tobacco in the "West. Fruits of all kinds excel on this soil. These lands 
require deep culture. 

The blackjack lands occupy the high flint ridges underlaid with horn- 
stone and sandstone, and under these conditions are considered the poor- 
est in the state, except for pastures and vineyards. The presence, how- 
ever, of black jack on other lands does not indicate thin or poor lands. 

Pine lands are extensive, embracing about two millions of acres. The 
pines (pinis mitis, yellow pine), grow to great size, and furnish immense 
supplies of marketable lumber. They are accompanied by heavy growths 
of oak, which takes the country as successor to the pine. The soil is 
sandy and is adapted to small grains and grasses. 

Bisecting the state by a line drawn from the city of Hannibal, on the 
Mississippi river, to its southwest corner, the half lying to the north and 
west of this line may be described as the prairie region of the state, with 
the rare advantage that every county is bountifully supplied with timber 
and with rivers and smaller streams of water. That which lies east and 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 85 

south of the bisecting line is the timbered or forest section, in which are 
found numerous prairies of greater or less extent. 

The prairie lands are again divided into bottom and upland prairies. 
The bottom prairies closely resemble in soil the river bottoms. In a cer- 
tain sense, the formation is identical; each came from accretions, one from 
the rivers and the other from the higher or upland prairies. The marl 
formation is the foundation of both and in both it is deeplv buried under 
the modern alluvium. 

The celebrated and eloquent orator, Henry Ward Beecher, paid the fol- 
lowing brilliant tribute to our grand state: 

"The breadth of land from the Red River country of the far North, 
stretching to the Gulf of Mexico, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, 
Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Texas is one of the most wonderful agricultural 
spectacles of the globe! It is one of the few facts that are unthinkable! 
In this ocean of land, and at nearly its centre, stands the imperial state 
of Missouri. Even a Kansas man admits that in natural qualifications it 
leads all the rest, and is the crown and glory of the Union! It has bound- 
less treasures of coal, iron, lead and other minerals; lands richer there 
cannot be, nor finer streams; its forests are more equally distributed all 
over the state than in any other; its climate, wholesome and delightful, 
blends the temperature of the northern lakes and the great southern gulf." 

Horace Greely said: "Missouri possesses the resources and capacities 
of a nation within the boundaries of a State." 

WILD GAME. 

Animals. — Missouri has been the feeding ground for vast herds of the 
choicest of the large game animals up to the present generation. Old 
hunters and trappers, still living, tell marvelous stories of their exploits 
with the gun. As civilization and population advanced westward their 
numbers decreased, yet Missouri is still furnishing a very large proportion 
of the game for the markets of all the large cities of the United States. 
Even London receives large shipments, every winter, from St. Louis. 
From October 1st to February 1st, of every year, there is not an express 
car arriving in St. Louis which does not bring large consignments of 
game. The quantity is enormous, and far beyond the knowledge of 
every one except those engaged in the trade, or whose duties bring them 
in contact with the facts. 

Elk, buffalo, antelope and bear formerly abounded in this state, but 
are now nearly or quite driven entirely beyond our borders. Red deer 
are still plentiful in some parts of the state. In fact, the Ozark Moun- 
tains and the swamp lands of southeast Missouri constitute a great deer 
park and game preserve, and will continue to do so until immigration 
crowds out the game. It is a notorious fact, that venison sells as cheaply 
as good beef in St. Louis markets, during the winter season. 



86 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

The rabbit, as it is popularly called here, is a species of hare, and is 
about the average size of the domestic cat. They are so numerous in 
Missouri as to be considered a pest; are found in every field and forest 
in the state. Squirrels are very numerous, especially in the swampy and 
hilly regions. The two principal varieties are the grey squirrel and the 
red fox-squirrel. One of these varieties is to be found in every clump of 
timbered land in the state. 

Birds. — Wild turkeys, the finest game birds in the world, abound in the 
same region. Prairie chickens, or pinnated grouse, are abundant in all 
the prairie regions ot" the state, and are shipped from St. Louis to eastern 
markets by hundreds of barrels during the fall months; but the game 
laws of the state strictly prohibit their being killed or trapped during the 
breeding season. Quails, or Virginia partridge, or "Bob-Whites," are 
found everywhere, so common that partridge pie, or " quail on toast," is 
no great rarity in thrifty farm houses. 

Wild ducks, wild geese, snipe, plover and several species of the rail 
frequent Missouri during their annual migrations north and south. Dur- 
ing March, April and May the migratory birds pass through Missouri, 
going north to their nesting and brooding places, probably near the 
Arctic circle. In October, November and December they return, on 
their journey southward to spend the winter. There is no state in the 
great Mississippi basin more frequented by these migratory game birds 
than Missouri. 

Fishes. — The early settlers found the rivers and lakes teeming with 
many fine varieties of game and food fishes, and there is still a bountiful 
supply. Black bass, perch, catfish, buffalo fish, suckers and pike consti- 
tute the leading varieties of native fishes. Black bass of several varieties 
inhabit every stream of considerable size in the state, and every lake con- 
tains them. It is the best game fish in the state. The perch family is 
represented by several dozen species; and perch of several kinds are 
found in every body of water jn the state, which does not actually dry up 
in the summer time. The catfish of Missouri are not only numerous, but 
famous the world over. There are at least a dozen species in the waters 
of this state. The yellow catfish grows to great size, often reaching a 
weight of 175 pounds; the black catfish, maximum weight about 45 
pounds; blue or forked-tail catfish, reaching 150 pounds and upwards in 
weight; the channel catfish, weighing from one to fifteen pounds, and the 
yellow mud catfish, often weighing as high as 100 pounds. The sucker 
family includes the buffalo fish, chub, sucker and red horse. The first of 
these is highly prized, abundant, and grows to a maximum weight of 40 
pounds. The last named is very abundant during certain seasons of the 
year, and valuable; they weigh from 6 ounces to 8 pounds. Pike of sev- 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 87 

eral species are found throughout Missouri, and rank with black bass as 
game fish; they are found in the clearer and rapid streams. 

The above lists constitute the leading fishes of the state, but by no means 
all, as there are many minor species. 

The state board of fish commissioners receives $3,000 annually from 
the state, to defray expenses of propagating desirable kinds of food fishes, 
that are not found native in the state. In 1S7S Mr. Reid distributed 100,- 
000 fry of the California salmon, in the state. In May and June, 1S79, 
the commission distributed 250,000 shad fry in the rivers of southeast, 
south and southwest Missouri, and planted 5,000 young trout in the 
springs and sources of the same rivers. Later they have planted 100,- 
000 fry of the California salmon in the same sections of the state. In 1880 
two or three hundred thousand fry of German carp were planted. All 
the waters of Missouri are adapted to this fish, more especially the lakes 
and sluggish streams. The carp can be as easily cultivated as pigs or 
turkeys, and it is hoped that in a few years all the streams of the state 
will be stocked with them. 



THE CLIMATE. 



For nearly forty years Dr. George Engelmann, of St. Louis, kept sys- 
tematic records of the meteorology of St. Louis and vicinity; and by 
compiling similar records kept during long or short periods, by other per- 
sons in different parts of the state, he has been able to report pretty cor- 
rectly the dates and weather-facts which go to furnish a comprehensive 
estimate of the general nature of the climate, at each season of the year, 
in different parts of the state. The following facts of great practical 
interest and value are gathered from the doctor's work: 

Our winters, taken in the usual sense, from the first of December to 
the last of February, have in the city an average temperature of 33.3 
degrees, and may be estimated for the surrounding country at 32 degrees; 
but they vary in different seasons between 25 degrees (winter of 1855-6 
and 1872-3) and 40 degrees (winter 1S44-5). Our summers (from June 
1st to August 31st) have in the city a mean temperature of 76. S degrees, 
and are calculated to reach in the country 75 degrees, ranging between 
the coolest summer, 71.5 degrees mean temperature (1S35, 1839 and 
1848), and the warmest of 80 degrees mean temperature, (1838, 1850 and 
especially 1854). 

The last frosts in spring occur between March 13th and May 2d, on 
an average about April 5th, and the earliest autumnal frosts between 
October 4th and November 26th, on an average about October 27th; the 



8b HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

period between these two terms extends in different years from 184 to 
252 days, on an average 205 days. In the southeast part of the state 
these limits of the freezing point will, of course, be much wider apart, 
and in the northwest they are narrowed down considerably. Our spring 
opens in March, though in some favored seasons vegetation breaks 
through its wintry bounds already in the latter part of February, while 
in a few very late springs it cannot be said to have fairly commenced 
before the middle of April. * * * We find the first in bloom is the 
alder and the hazel; next — not rarely retarded by intervening cold spells — 
the soft or silver leaf maple; our common white elm blooms a few days 
after this, between February 24th and April 15th, on an average, March 
19th. During the next following days, roses, syringas, gooseberries and 
many other bushes, and the weeping willows, show their young leaves. 
About two weeks after, the elm — between March 18th and April 25th, 
on an average about April 3d — the peach trees open their first blossoms, 
and are, one week later, in full bloom. Plum and pear trees and sweet 
cherries blossom about the same time, or a few days later, and then sour 
cherries and the glory of our rich woods, the red buds, get in bloom. 
Between March 21st and May 1st, (mean, April 14th) the early apple 
trees begin to bloom, and between March 28th and May 10th, (mean, 
April 20th) they may be said to be in full bloom. 

The maturity and harvest of winter wheat immediately succeeds the 
catalpa bloom, between June 10th and July 1st, usually about June 20th. 
The mean summer temperature varies but little throughout the state. In 
the summer of 1873 the mean temperature in the southeast was found 
only one-half degree higher than that of the northeast, and the difference 
between St. Louis and the west was even less. Winter temperatures, 
however, show a wide range. The mean temperature of the southeast- 
ern part of the state is 2^- to 3 degrees higher than at St. Louis, and 
5£ degrees higher than in the northeastern angle, and the mean tem- 
perature of Leavenworth, and the adjacent parts of Missouri, is fully 2 
degrees less than that of the region about St. Louis. 

In connection with our winter temperature it must be mentioned that 
the Mississippi at St. Louis freezes over about once in four or five 
years, partly, no doubt, in consequence of the heavy ice floating down 
from the north ; and it then remains closed for one or two, or even four 
or six weeks, sometimes passable for the heaviest teams. Our river has 
been known to close as early as the first week in December, and in 
other years, to be open as late as the last week in February,while the run- 
ning ice may impede or interrupt navigation between the end of Novem- 
ber and the end of February, sometimes as low down as the southeast 
corner of the state ; the river is said, however, never to freeze over below 
Cape Girardeau. The Missouri river is sometimes closed in the latter 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



89 



part of November, and has been known to remain firmly bridged over 
into the first week of March. 

The climate of Missouri is, on the whole, a dry one, with strong evap- 
oration, and an atmosphere but rarely overloaded with moisture. 



Clear or nearly clear days 

Partially clear and variable days 

Days when the sun remains obscured. 



Winter 
30 
39 
21 



Spring 



33 

47 
12 



Summer 



40 

48 
4 



Autumn 



40 
39 
12 



Whole Yr. 



143 

173 

49 



Our summer rains mostly descend with great abundance, and in a com- 
paratively short time, so that the average (13 inches) of summer rain falls 
in 70 hours, distributed over twenty -four days, while the 7 inches of win- 
ter rain (and snow) descend in 160 hours and on 22 days. The days on 
which it rains vary between 68 and 115 in the year. On the average we 
have 92 days in the year on which it rains. Our rains last from a frac- 
tion of an hour to a few hours, and very rarely extend through the 24 
hours. 

Snow is rather scarce in our climate, and rarely continually covers the 
ground for more than a few days or a week. In some years, it amounted, 
when melted to 5£ inches; in others to only one-half, inch ; the aver- 
age is about 2-J- inches. 

The atmospherical pressure (indicated by the stage of the barometer) is 
with us, in summer, more uniform and regular than on the Atlantic coast, 
while in winter it fluctuates considerably, and often very rapidly. The 
average barometrical pressure is highest in January, falls till May, and 
gradually rises again until January; it is most variable from November to 
March, and least so from June to August. 

HEALTHFULNESS OF THE STATE. 

Authentic reports to the Health Board of St. Louis is have shown that 
-the annual sickness rate of the city of St. Louis about seventeen and a half 
days to each member of the population. Dr. Boardman, of Boston, has 
ascertained the sickness rate of the city of Boston to be about twenty- 
four days of annual sickness to each individual. The general correctness 
of these conclusions are further substantiated by army statistics. Dr. 
Play fair, of England, after careful inquiry, computed the ratio of one 
■death to twenty-eight cases of sickness in a mixed population. 

The state of Massachusetts has for many years had a state board of 
Health, by whom sanitary improvements have been diligently and scien 
tifically prosecuted, under state authority; and the annual death-rate has 
thereby been somewhat reduced. In 1870 Massachusetts had a popula- 
tion of 1,457,351 and there were during the same period 25,859 deaths 
from all causes. A mortality equal to 1.77 per cent of the population. At 



90 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

the same time Missouri had a population of 1,721,295, and there were 
during that year 27,982 deaths from all causes. A mortality rate equiva- 
lent to 1.63 per cent, of the population. It thus appears, if the calculation 
is made and the relative proportion between the populations and the death 
rates of the two states maintained, that vital security is greater in Mis- 
souri, as compared with Massachusetts, to an extent represented by 
the annual saving of 2,474 lives. But this is not all. The authorities on 
vital statistics estimate that two persons are constantly sick for every one 
that dies; and Dr. Jarvis shows, from the experience of health-assurance 
companies in this country, that on an average each person loses from 1& 
to 20 days per year by sickness. Then we have this result: Two 
persons sick to one death, equal 4,94S, multiplied by 20, gives 98,960 days 
per year less of sickness in Missouri than in Massachusetts, in proportion 
to population. Then reckon the amount of care and anxiety and suffering 
and the loss of time, and cost for nursing and medicines and doctor's bills — 
and you will begin to get some idea of what these figures really mean, in 
favor of our state, with its dry, salubrious climate, in comparison with 
Massachusetts, the only other state for which the figures were at hand 
to make the comparison. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The Missouri state board of agriculture was created a body corporate 
by statute, in 1877, and it was provided that the governor, the state sup- 
erintendent of schools, the president of the state university and the 
dean of the state agricultural college, should be ex-officio members of 
the board. The officers of the secretary and treasurer are required to be 
at the agricultural college, at Columbia, in Boone county; and the annual 
meetings are to be held there, on the first Wednesday of November in 
each year. The presidents or duly authorized delegates of county 
agricultural societies, are rightful members of the state board, "for delib- 
eration and consultation as to the wants, prospects and condition of the 
agricultural interests of the state, to receive the reports of district and 
county societies, and to fill by elections all vacancies in the board." 

The law further provides that, " It shall be the duty of all agricultural 
and horticultural societies, organized ^nd established in accordance with 
the laws of this state, to make a full report of their transactions to the 
Missouri state board of agriculture, at each annual meeting thereof." 

The state board is required " to make an annual report to the general 
assembly of the state, embracing the proceedings of the board for the 
past year, and an abstract of the reports and proceedings of 'the several 
agricultural and horticultural societies, as well as a general view of the 
condition of agriculture and horticulture throughout the state, accom- 
panied by such recommendations, including especially such a system of 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 91 

public instruction upon those subjects as may be deemed interesting and 
useful." Provision is then made for printing fourteen thousand copies 
(two thousand in the German language), for distribution to all who will use 
them. 

OUR STAPLE CROPS. 

First of all the crops grown in the state, in amount and value, is Indian 
corn. There is not a county in the state in which it is not successfully 
and profitably grown. The broad alluvial bottoms along our great rivers 
yield immense crops of this valuable cereal, and our fertile prairies are 
but little, if any, behind them in their yield. 

Next in importance among the cereals is wheat, which grows and yields 
well in every part of the state. Except in a few northern counties, spring 
wheat is but little grown, the main attention being bestowed upon the 
winter varieties, which are especially a favorite crop upon the loess and 
clay loams, and upon the oak uplands of the state. The well known fact 
that the best flour to stand transportation and exposure in hot and humid 
climates, is made from wheat grown toward the southern border of the 
wheat zone, has made Missouri flour a favorite for shipment to South 
American markets. Flour made in Missouri, from Missouri wheat, won 
the Medal of Merit at the World's Exposition, at Vienna, in 1S73. The 
average yield and the certainty of the wheat crop in Missouri, give the 
state a high rank among the states producing this cereal. 

Oats grow and yield well in the state, producing heavy straw, plump 
and heavy grains; but the crop does not figure very largely in our 
markets, being mainly grown for home consumption. 

Tobacco, of two or three varieties, grows well, and Missouri tobacco 
enjovs a fine reputation for excellence. The state embraces some of the 
best tobacco lands in the country. It is a staple in nearly every county in 
the state, and some of the counties make it a leading crop. Missouri 
ranks sixth in its production. 

Cotton, except in small patches for home use, is raised only in the 
southern counties of the state. Stoddard, Scott, New Madrid, Pemiscot, 
Dunklin, Mississippi and Lawrence, all raise more or less for shipment, 
and, in some of the counties named, it is an important crop. 

Potatoes grow well, and on most of our soils yield large crops. They 
are of fine quality generally. 

Sweet Potatoes grow upon our sandy soils to great size and excellence, 
and our farmers raise a great abundance for home use, and the city 
markets are always well supplied. 

Sorghum, and other varieties of the Chinese sugar cane, are exten- 
sively grown, and many thousands of gallons of syrup are annually made 
for home use. Recent improvements in manufacturing sugar from these 



$2 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

syrups bid fair to increase the value and importance of this branch of 
husbandry. 

Broom Corn is extensively grown in Missouri, and the brush being 
longer and finer than that grown in the eastern states, commands a much 
better price in market. 

Buckwheat, Castor Beans, White Beans, Peas and Ho^ps, are all success- 
fully grown and made profitable crops. 

Garden Vegetables are produced in great profusion and variety, and 
the more arid regions of western Kansas and New Mexico, and the 
mining districts of Colorado, afford an ever-increasing market for these 
and other agricultural products from our state. Watermelons, musk- 
melons, etc., grow to great perfection, and are shipped in large quantities 
from some portions of the state to cities farther north. 

The U. S. forestry statistics of 1875, give Missouri 21,707,220 acres of 
land in farms; 20,116,786 acres not in farms; of wood land in farms there 
were 8,965,229 acres, and the total woodlands in the state was reported 
as 19,623,619 acres. 

There is a curious bit of agricultural history which illustrates the rapid 
development of the western country, and at the same time shows, by 
the inevitable logic of events already transpired, the magnificent position 
of Missouri as the greatest wheat center on the globe. In 1849 the cen- 
ter of the wheat product of the United States was the meridian of 81 ° 
west of Greenwich, passing north and south through the eastern border 
counties of Ohio. In 1859 that line had moved westward a little more than 
two degrees of longitude, and passed through the eastern border counties 
of Indiana, the city of Fort Wayne being on the line. In 1869 the wheat 
center had moved not quite two degrees further west, and was that year 
a few miles west of Chicago and Milwaukee; and the center of our 
National corn crop was on the same line at this time. In 1877 this line 
had moved still further west, and was now represented by a line drawn 
on a map of the United States from Marquette, on Lake Superior, down 
through Janesville, Wisconsin, and through Mendota, LaSalle, Vandalia 
and Cairo, in Illinois. The corn center will not move much if any further 
west; but the wheat center, by reason of the rapid development of this 
crop in Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, is now, in 1881, as far 
west as St. Louis; and it will not be likely to migrate further than Jeffer- 
son City at any time in the future, because there is no important wheat- 
growing territory further west still unoccupied. The new settlements 
westward must be chiefly by mining and manufacturing peoples, hence, 
consumers rather than producers of the great cereal crops. 

The conclusion of the whole matter, then, is that St. Louis is now, and 
will for several decades continue to be, practically on the center line of 
the aggregate product of wheat and corn in the United States, propor- 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 



93 



tioned from east to west limits of the national domain. And this fact 
assures Missouri of pre-eminent commercial rank among the grand sister- 
hood of states. 

The following table shows the number of pounds weight which con- 
stitute a lawful bushel in Missouri, of the different articles named, as 
established in 1879: 



No. lbs. 
Articles. per bu. 

Wheat 60 

Corn, shelled 56 

Corn in ear 70 

Corn Meal 50 

Rye 56 

Oats 32 

Barley. 48 

Irish Potatoes 60 

Sweet Potatoes 56 

Beans, White 60 

Castor Beans 46 

Bran 20 

Clover Seed 60 

Timothy Seed . .• 45 

Hungarian Seed 4S 

Hemp Seed 44 

Flaxseed 56 

Millet Seed 50 

Red-top Seed or Herd's Grass 14 

Osage Orange Seed 36 

Sorghum Seed 42 

Kentucky Blue Grass Seed... 14 



No. lbs. 
Articles. per bu. 

Orchard Grass 14 

Buckwheat 52 

Onions 57 

Top Onion Sets 28 

Peas, whole, dry 60 

Split Peas 60 

Dried Apples 24 

Dried Peaches 33 

Malt 38 

Salt 50 

Coal 80 

Peanuts, dry Southern 22 

Cotton Seed 33 

Parsnips . 44 

Common Turnips , 42 

Carrots 50 

Rutabagas 50 

Green Peas, unshelled 56 

Green Beans, unshelled 56 

Green Apples 48 

Green Peaches 48 

Green Pears 48 



The standard bushel for coke and charcoal is to contain 2,680 cubic 
inches; apple barrels, length, 28-£ inches; chines, £ of an inch at ends; 
diameter of head, 17^- inches; inside diameter at the center of the barrel, 
20-| inches. 

HORTICULTURE. 

The state horticultural society was organized in January, 1859, and 
has kept up its annual meetings in spite of all difficulties. Each congres- 
sional district of the state is classed as a separate horticultural district, and 
is represented in the society by a vice-president, who is expected to keep 
himself posted on the interests of this industry in his district, and make 
report (or procure some one to do it), at the annual meeting. The officers 
of this society for 1880, were: President, Hon. Norman J. Colman, St. 
Louis; Vice Presidents: 1st congressional district, H. Michel, St. Louis; 
2d, Dr. C. W. Spaulding, Cliff Cave; 3d, J. Rhodes, Bridgeton; 4th, 
H. D. Wilson, Cape Girardeau; 5th, W. S. Jewett, Crystal City; 6th, M. 



9i HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

S. Roundtree, Springfield; 7th, E. Brown, Sedalia; 8th, Z. S. Ragan, 
Independence; 9th, J. Madinger, St. Joseph; 10th, W. H. Miller, Chili- 
cothe; 11th, G. Husmann, Columbia; 12th, J. Hawkins, Hannibal; 13th, 
W. Stark, Louisiana. 

Apples. — All the standard varieties of the temperate zone are raised 
in their highest perfection in the state of Missouri; but in such a large 
area of country as our state comprises, and with such a great variety of 
soils, and other conditions, each different kind has its locality of best suc- 
cess. It is therefore not possible to indicate what varieties are best for 
the state ; each district will have its favorites. At the national exhibit, in 
1878, Missouri showed one hundred and forty plates of apples. Distin- 
guished pomologists assert that ten counties in north Missouri can show 
apples in as great variety and perfection as any ten other states in the 
Union. 

Perhaps no better proof can be given of the general excellence of 
Missouri fruits than the fact that at the meeting of the American pomo- 
logical society, in September, 1878, medals were awarded to Missouri for 
the best displays of apples, pears and wines, and also one for the best 
general display of fruits. These honors were gained in competition with 
every state in the union, represented by their choicest fruits, and at an 
exhibition held at Rochester, New York, which had long been regarded 
as the very center of the fruit growing interests of the country. The 
fruits exhibited on that occasion were from different parts of the state. 
St. Joseph, Independence, Morrison, Columbia, Hermann, St. Louis county, 
Boone county, and other districts were represented, and shared the hon- 
ors of our great victory. 

The varieties that appear to have received most favor at the meeting 
of our state agricultural society, in 1880, were Ben Davis, Winesap, 
Jonathan, Dominie, Rawle's Janet, Milam, Northern Spy, Carthouse, 
Newtown Pippin, Summer Pippin, Red June, Early Harvest, Red 
Astrachan, Late Summer, Dutchess of Oldenburg, Early Ptnnock, St. 
Lawrence, Maiden Blush, Rambo, Grimes' Golden, Limber Twig, Little 
Romanite. 

Peaches. — The southeastern portion of the state, along the line of the 
Iron Mountain railroad, and the western portion, where the marly deposits 
are so rich and extensive, are pre-eminently the peach districts, and in 
these regions the peach seems almost indigenous, never failing to produce 
abundant crops; and yet fruit-growers in these districts say that they are 
never able to supply the demand, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado taking 
all from the western region, and St. Louis having to draw upon other states 
for her supplies. Peaches may be relied upon as a profitable crop in all 
that part of the state south of the Missouri river, and, indeed, are largely 
grown much further north, St. Joseph exporting large amounts. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 95 

In some localities the trees have occasionally been winter-killed, when not 
in suitable soil or not sheltered ; but, on the whole, Missouri may fairly be set 
down as a peach-growing state. Mr. R. Lynn, of Rockport, in the 
northrwest part of the state, says he has raised three good paying crops 
of peaches in seven years, the first crop being the third year from plant- 
ing; his best crop was in 1S78. 

Pears. — Pears do well throughout the state, especially in the region 
of Clay, Jackson and Cass counties. The trees attain a great size and 
age — a diameter of from twelve to fifteen inches is common; and there 
are trees a short distance south of St. Louis over two hundred years old, 
and still bearing full crops. The pear, although the most luscious fruit 
grown in northern latitudes, is also one of the most difficult to raise suc- 
cessfully — hence it is a matter of reasonable pride and gratification that 
this fruit has done so well in our state. At the national pomological 
exhibition, of 1S78, there were from this state: From the Missouri Val- 
ley horticultural society, Kansas City, twenty varieties of pears ; from 
Jacob Rhodes, Bridgeton, nine varieties; from J. Madinger, St. Joseph, 
six varieties; from W. Stark, Louisiana, two varieties. Some of the 
finest specimens at the exhibition were grown near St. Louis, on stocks of 
the white thorn. 

Grapes. — For several years the chief fruit-growing interest of our state 
seemed to center on the grape — at least, it was more discussed and advo- 
cated in fashionable circles, than ail the other fruits put together. The 
anti-prohibition sentiment rallied around the grape-growing industry for 
the manufacture of native wines, as the great panacea for all the ills and 
horrors of intemperance. But aside from any matter of sentiment in the 
case, it does seem as though we excel all other states of the Union in the 
variety and richness of our grapes, both of native and cultivated varieties. 

From Prof. Swallow's report on the country along the lines of the 
southwestern branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad, published in 1859, 
we learn that seven different native grapes have been found in Missouri. 
1. Vitis Labrusca, commonly called "fox grape." The Isabella, Catawba, 
Schuylkill and Bland's seedling, are cultivated and popular varieties derived 
from this wild grape. 2. Vitis Aestivalis, or "summer grape." This 
is found in all parts of the state. 3. Vitis Cordifolia; winter grape, or 
" frost grape " as it is more commonly called. 4. Vitis Rifiaria, or "river 
grape," grows along streams and is quite large. 5. Vitis Vid-pina ; called 
also Muscadine. It grows mostly in the south part of the state, and is a 
large fine fruit. The cultivated grape called Scuppernong is derived from 
this wild variety. 6. Vitis Bi-pinnata; found in Cape Girardeau and 
Pemiscot counties. 7. Vitis Indivisa; found in central and western 
counties. 



96 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

GRASSES. 

There are few or no grasses that are ^peculiar to Missouri; and fortu- 
nately so, for there is no permanent advantage in being adapted to pecu- 
liar crops any more than in being a peculiar people. The great blessings 
of life are universal and widespread. It results that all the valuable 
members of this great and beneficial family of plants are adapted to and 
capable of being introduced and cultivated in this state. Flint, in his 
standard work on grasses, says: "Whoever has blue grass has the basis 
of all agricultural prosperity, and that man, if he have not the finest 
horses, cattle and sheep, has no one to blame but himself. Others, in 
other circumstances, may do well. He can hardly avoid doing well if he 
will try." 

Blue grass is indigenous in Missouri. When the timber is removed it 
springs up spontaneously on the land, and, when the prairie is reclaimed, 
it soon takes possession and supersedes all other grasses. This famous 
grass is the foundation on which the mighty stock industry of Kentucky* 
has been built, and has given a world-renowned reputation to its fine 
blood horses, cattle and sheep. The combing-wool sheep and the fine 
mutton breeds have obtained a national reputation for wool and mutton in 
that state, and their usefulness has but begun. What blue grass has done 
for Kentucky, it is now doing for Missouri. An acre of this grass is 
worth an acre of corn. 

Recent experience has proved that alfalfa or lucerne, that most fatten- 
ing of all grasses, grows luxuriantly in this region, yielding each year 
three or four good crops of hay. 

THE "GRASSHOPPER" IN MISSOURI. 

As early as 1867, our state board of agriculture reported destruction by 
grasshoppers (the Rocky Mountain locust,) in the western part of the 
state the previous fall; and also, that there had been visitations more or 
less injurious in former years. But their greatest and most grievous 
invasion occurred in the fall of 1874, when 33 counties of western Mis- 
souri suffered from thefr ruthless ravages. Our state entomologist, Prof. 
C. V. Riley, made such a thorough, diligent and masterful study of their 
origin and habits, and the causes, methods and consequences of their migra- 
tions, that he became the standard authority on grasshoppers all over the 
civilized world. In 1876 the government appointed a special commission 
of entomologists to investigate the character and movements of these 
pests, and report for the benefit of the whole infested region, which com- 
prised the country west of St. Paul, Minnesota, Jefferson City, Missouri, 
and Galveston, Texas, ranging from the Gulf of Mexico on the south, to 

* "Kentucky blue grass," (so-called), is not native to that state : it is the same as the En- 
glish spear grass, the New England June grass,, or meadow grass — or, in botanical lan- 
guage, poa pratensis. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. \)\ 

Lake Winnipeg and Manitoba in the British possessions northward, and 
as far west as the headquarters of the Columbia river. The most prom- 
inent scientists on this commission were our own Prof. Riley, and Prof. 
Samuel Aughey, of the state university of Nebraska. 

The results of this United States commission were little if anything 
mere than a tedious elaboration of what Prof. Riley had presented in 
three annual reports as state entomologist of Missouri. No new points 
of any special importance were discovered concerning them. The devel- 
opment of this subject, therefore, belongs to the history of what Missouri 
has done for science, for agriculture and for the public weal. In his 
seventh annual report to our state board of agriculture, IS 75, Prof. Riley 
says : 

''There is some difference of opinion as to the precise natural habitat and 
breeding places of these insects, but the facts all indicate that it is by 
nature a denizen of high altitudes, breeding in the valleys, parks and 
plateaus of the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, and especially of 
Montana, Wyoming and British America. Prof. Cyrus Thomas, who 
has had an excellent opportunity of studying it, through his connection 
with Hayden's geological survey of the territories, reports it as occurring 
from Texas to British America, and from the Mississippi westward to the 
Sierra Nevada range. But in all this vast extent of country, and espe- 
cially in the more southern latitudes, there is every reason to believe that 
it breeds only on the higher mountain elevations, and where the atmos- 
phere is very dry and attenuated, and the soil, seldom, if ever, gets soaked 
with moisture. Prof. Thomas found it most numerous in all stages of 
growth, along the higher valleys and canyons of Colorado, tracing it up 
above the perennial snows, where the insects must have hatched, as it 
was found in the adolescent stage. In crossing the mountains in Col- 
orado, it often gets chilled in passing snows, and thus perishes in 
immense numbers, where bears delight to feast upon it. My own belief 
is that the insect is at home in the higher altitudes of Utah, Idaho, Col- 
orado, W}'oming f Montana, northwest Dakota, and British America. It 
breeds in all this region, but particularly on the vast hot and dry plains 
and plateaus of the last named territories, and on the plains west of the 
mountains; its range being bounded, perhaps, on the east by that of the 
buffalo grass. 

" Mr. Wm. N. Byers, of Denver, Colorado, shows that they hatch in 
immense quantities in the valleys of the three forks of the Missouri river 
and along the Yellowstone, and how they move on from there, when 
fledged, in a southeast direction, at about ten miles a day. The swarms 
of 1867 were traced, as he states, from their hatching grounds in west 
Dakota, and Montana, along the east flank of the P-ocky Mountains, in 
the valleys and plains of the Black Hills, and between them and the main 
Rock}- Mountain range. It all this immense stretch of countr}',as is well 
known, there are immense tracts of barren, almost desert land, while 
other tracts for hundreds of miles bear only a scanty vegetation, the short 
buffalo grass of the more fertile prairies giving way now to a more luxu- 
riant vegetation along the water courses, now to the sage bush and a few 
cacti. Another physical peculiarity is found in the fact that while the 
7 



98 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

spring on these immense plains often opens as early, even away up into 
British America, as it does with us in the latitude of St. Louis, yet the veg- 
etation is often dried and actually burned out before the first of July, so 
that not a green thing is to be found. Our Rocky Mountain locust, 
therefore, hatching out in untold myriads in the hot sandy plains, five or 
six thousand feet above the level of the sea, will often perish in immense 
numbers if the scant vegetation of its native home dries up before it 
acquires wings; but if the season is propitious, and the insect becomes 
fledged before its food supplies is exhausted, the newly acquired wings 
prove its salvation. It may also become periodically so prodigiously mul- 
tiplied in its native breeding place, that, even in favorable seasons, every- 
thing green is devoured by the time it becomes winged. 

" In either case, prompted by that most exigent law of hunger — spurred 
on for very life — it rises in immense clouds in the air to seek for fresh 
pastures where it may stay its ravenous appetite. Borne along by pre- 
vailing winds that sweep over these immense treeless plains from the north- 
west, often at the rate of fifty or sixty miles an hour, the darkening locust 
clouds are soon carried into the more moist and fertile country to the 
southeast, where, with sharpened appetites, they fall upon the crops like 
a plague and a blight. 

" Many of the more feeble or of the more recently fledged perish, no 
doubt, on he way, but the main army succeeds, with favorable wind, 
in bridging over the parched country which offers no nourishment. The 
hotter and dryer the season, and the greater the extent of the drouth, the 
earlier will they be prompted to migrate, and the farther will they push 
on to the east and south. 

" The comparatively sudden change from the attenuated and dry atmos- 
phere of five to eight thousand feet or more above the sea level, to the 
more humid and dense atmosphere of one thousand feet below that level, 
does not agree with them. The first generation hatched in this low coun- 
try is unhealthy, and the few that attain maturity do not breed, but 
become intestate and go to the dogs. At least such is the case in our own 
state and the whole of the Mississippi valley proper. As we go west or 
northwest and approach nearer and nearer the insect's native home, the 
power to propagate itself and become localized, becomes, of course, greater 
and greater, until at last we reach the country where it is found per- 
petually. Thus in the western parts of Kansas and Nebraska the pro- 
geny from the mountain swarms may multiply to the second or even third 
generation, and wing their way in more local and feeble bevies to the 
country east and south. Yet eventually they vanish from off the face of 
the earth, unless fortunate enough to be carried back by favorable winds 
to the high and dry country where they flourish. 

" That they often instinctively seek to return to their native haunts is 
proven by the fact that they are often seen flying early in the season in a 
northwesterly direction. As a rule, however, the wind which saved the 
first comers from starvation by bearing them away from their native 
home, keeps them and their issue to the east and south, and thus, in the 
end proves their destruction. For in the Mississippi valley they are 
doomed, sooner or later. There is nothing more certain than that the 
insect is not antochthonous in west Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, 
or even Minnesota, and that when forced to migrate from its native home, 
from the causes already mentioned, it no longer thrives in this country." 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 99 

February 23, 187t, our state legislature passed a law providing for 
the payment of a bounty at one dollar per bushel in March, fifty cents 
per bushel in April, and twenty-five cents per bushel in May, for grass- 
hoppers; and five dollars per bushel for their eggs at any time. Nebraska 
did still better, by making every road supervisor in the state a grasshop- 
per policeman, and giving him authority to call out every man from six- 
teen to sixty years old, to spend two days killing young grasshoppers 
from the time they begin to hatch in the spring. 

All the grasshopper states now have some sort of protective laws; and 
if another invasion occurs, by concerted and organized effort the amount 
of damage suffered can be reduced to a small per cent as compared with 
our last " plague of the locusts." 



PART III.— NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE. 

NAVIGATION— ANCIENT AND MODERN. 
It is not certainly known just what modes of navigation were used by 
the prehistoric mound-builders, although we hare some relics of their 
time, or possibly of a still earlier race, which are deemed to show that 
they made wooden dug-outs or troughs, by burning them into a sort of 
boat-like shape and condition. And it is supposed that, prior to this they 
lashed together logs or fragments of drift-wood, and made rude rafts 
upon which they could cross rivers or float down, but of course could 
not return with them. Some remains have been found in northwestern 
Iowa* which are supposed to prove that men used wooden dug-out boats 
during the age when Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska were the 
bottom of a vast inland sea or lake, into which the Missouri and Platte 
rivers emptied their muddy waters and deposited what Prof. Swallow 
calls the "bluff formation" over these states; and Prof. Whitney found 
in California undisputable proof of man's existence there a whole geolog- 
ical age prior to the period when the great fresh water Missouri sea 
existed, (see note to chart, on page 67); hence the fact that raft and dug- 
out navigation was in use among the islands and shallows of this immense 
mud-lake or inland sea, seems not improbable. 

However, the modern Indians, before the white man appeared in these 
western wilds, had the art of making light and elegant canoes of birch 
bark, and could manage them in the water with wonderful skill. They 
made long journeys in them, both up and down stream; and when they 
wanted to go from one stream to another these canoes were so light that 
two men could carry one on their shoulders and march twenty or twenty- 
five miles a day with it if necessary. But they w r ere too light and frail 
for the freighting service of the white man's commerce. 

* Reported to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at its St. Louis 
meeting, in August, 1878, by W. J. McGee, geologist, of Farley, Iowa. 



100 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

The European explorers of this new world utilized the Indian canoes 
as far as practicable, often making considerable voyages in them; some- 
times two were lashed together by means of coupling poles laid across 
on top of them, thus making a boat with two hulls. This rig could not 
be upset, and was easy to tow or paddle, besides making a sort of over- 
deck on which to carry baggage. But the thin, frail material was too 
easily punctured to be safe, and boats made of plank were always in 
demand. At first the boats were built in the " scow " fashion, with full 
width flat bottom and full width sled-runner bow. But they soon learned 
that in order to make any headway going up stream they must adopt the 
keel bottom and water-cutter prow style ; and for more than a hundred 
years the traffic of all our navigable western rivers was carried on mainly 
by means of what were called keel-boats. The manner of propelling 
them up stream we have described elsewhere. 

THE LEWIS AND CLARKE EXPEDITION. 

The Missouri river was first opened to commerce and geography by 
Lewis and Clarke, who were commissioned by President Jefferson, in 
1803, to explore it. They left St. Louis May 14', 1804. The outfit con- 
sisted of twenty-six men; one keel-boat fifty-five feet long, drawing three 
feet of water, and provided with one large square sail and twenty-two 
oars. Also, two open boats, one of six, and one of seven oars. May 16th 
they were at St. Charles ; on the 25th they reached LaCharrette, a small 
village sixty-five miles above the mouth of the river, not far from where 
Marthasville, in Warren county, is now located, and which was the last 
white settlement up the river. June 1st they reached the mouth of the 
Osage river, which was so called because the Osage tribe of Indians 
dwelt along its course. June 26th, they reached the mouth of the Kansas 
river, where Kansas City now flourishes in all her glory, and remained 
here two days for rest and repairs. The Kansas tribe of Indians had two 
villages in this vicinity. July 8th they were at the mouth of the Nodawa, 
where now is the village of Amazonia, in Andrew county ; and on the 11th 
they landed at the mouth of the Nemaha river. On the 14th they passed 
the mouth of the Nishnabotna river, and noted that it was only 300 yards 
distant from the Missouri at a point twelve miles above its mouth. 

This was their last point within the boundaries of the present state of 
Missouri. St. Louis was then the territorial capital of the whole region 
they were to explore through to the mouth of the Columbia river on the 
Pacific coast. This was one of the great exploring adventures of the 
world's history, and its narrative is full of romantic and thrilling interest, 
but space forbids its presentation here. The party followed up the entire 
length of the Missouri river, then down the Columbia to the Pacific 
ocean, reaching that point November 14th, 1805. Here they wintered; 
and on March 23d, 1806, they started on their return trip by the same 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 101 

route, arriving at St. Louis September 23d, at 12 o'clock — not a man 
missing from the party that first started out; and the people of St. Louis 
gave them an enthusiastic ovation. 

FIRST STEAMBOATS IN MISSOURI. 

Steam came at last, and revolutionized the business of navigation and 
commerce throughout the world. The first steamboat that ever lashed 
the Missouri shore with its waves, or made our river hills and forests echo 
back her pulsating puffs, was the " General Pike," from Louisville, which 
landed at St. Louis, August 2, 1S17. Such boats had passed a few times 
up and down the whole length of the Ohio river, and between Louisville 
and New Orleans, before this, so that the people of St. Louis had heard 
about them from the keel-boat navigators. They were therefore over- 
joyed when the firsi one landed at the foot of their main business street, 
and thus placed them for the first time in steam communication with the 
rest of the civilized world. The event was celebrated with the most 
enthusiastic manifestations of delight by the ringing of bells, firing of 
guns, floating of flags and streamers, building of bonfires, etc. The 
second one, the " Constitution," arrived October 2 ; and from that onward 
the arrival of steamboats became a very commonplace affair. 

The first boat that ever entered the Missouri river was the "Independ- 
ence," commanded by Captain Nelson. She left St. Louis May 15, 1819, 
and on the 28th arrived at Franklin, a flourishing young city that stood 
on the north bank of the Missouri river, opposite where Boonville is now 
located. There was a U. S. land office at Franklin, and it was the 
metropolis of the up-Missouri region, or as it was then called, the 
"Boone's Lick Country."* When this first steamboat arrived the citi- 
zens got up a grand reception and public dinner in honor of the captain 
and crew. The boat proceeded up as far as the mouth of the Chariton 
river, where there was then a small village called Chariton, but from that 
point turned back, picking up freight for St. Louis and Louisville at the 
settlements as she passed down. The town *site of Old Franklin was 
long ago all washed away, and the Missouri river now flows over the 
very spot where then were going on all the industries of a busy, thriving, 
populous young city. 

The second steamboat to enter the Missouri river (and what is given in 
most histories as the first) was in connection with Major S. H. Long's U. 
S. exploring expedition, and occurred June 21, 1819, not quite a month 
after the trip of the " Independence." Major Long's fleet consisted of 
four steamboats, the " Western Engineer," " Expedition," " Thomas Jef- 
ferson " and " R. M. Johnson," together with nine keel-boats. The 
"Jefferson," however, was wrecked and lost a few days after. The 

♦Daniel Boone had first explored this region and discovered some rich salt springs, and 
two of his sons manufactured suit and shipped it from Franklin for several years. 



102 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

"Western Engineer" was a double stern wheel boat, and had projecting 
from her bow a figure-head representing a huge open-jawed, red-mouthed, 
forked-tongued serpent, and out of this hideous orifice the puffs of steam 
escaped from the engines. The men on board had many a hearty laugh 
from watching the Indians on shore. When the strange monster came 
in sight, rolling out smoke and sparks from its chimney like a fiery mane, 
and puffing great mouthfuls of steam from its wide open jaws, they 
would look an instant, then yell, and run like deer to hide away from 
their terrible visitor. They thought it was the Spirit of Evil, the very 
devil himself, coming to devour them. But their ideas and their actions 
were not a whit more foolish than those of the sailors on the Hudson 
river, who leaped from their vessels and swam ashore to hide, when Ful- 
ton's first steamboat came puffing and glaring and smoking and splashing 
toward them, like a wheezy demon broke loose from the bottomless pit. 
Major Long was engaged five years in exploring all the region between 
the Mississippi river and the Rocky Mountains which is drained by the 
Missouri and its tributaries; and his steamboats were certainly the first 
that ever passed up* the Missouri to any great distance. Long's Peak, in 
Colorado, 14,272 feet high, was named after him. 

From this time forward the commerce and travel by steamboats to and 
from St. Louis grew rapidly into enormous proportions, and small towns 
sprung up in quick succession on every stream where a boat with paddle 
wheels could make its way. For half a century steamboating was the 
most economical and expeditious mode of commerce in vogue for inland 
traffic; and Missouri, with her whole eastern boundary washed by the 
" Father of Waters," and the equally large and navigable " Big Muddy " 
meandering entirely across her territory from east to west, and for nearly 
two hundred miles along her northwestern border, became an imperial 
center of the steamboating interest and industry. 

About 1830 the art of constructing iron-railed traffic-ways, with steam- 
propelled carriages upon them, began to be developed in our eastern 
states. But it was not until 1855 that these new devices for quick transit 
began to affect the steamboating interests of Missouri. (The first rail- 
roads to St. Louis were opened in that year; the railroad history of the 
state will be found in another place.) Then commenced the memorable 
struggle of the western steamboat interests, with headquarters at St. 
Louis, to prevent any railroad bridge from being built across the Missis- 
sippi, Missouri or Ohio rivers. They held that such structures would 
inevitably be an artificial obstruction to the free and safe navigation of 
these great natural highways. But it was evident enough to clear- 
thinking people that the steamboat business must- decline if railroads 
were permitted to cross the great rivers without the expense of breaking 
bulk, and this was the "true inwardness" of the anti-railroad bridge 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 103 

combination. The issue was made against the first railroad bridge that 
ever spanned the Mississippi, the one at Rock Island, Illinois. In a long 
course of controversy and litigation the railroads came out ahead, and 
steamboating gradually declined, both in the freight and passenger traffic, 
to less than half its former proportions. 

However, the tables have been turned again; and now, in 1881, 

THE BARGE SYSTEM 
has suddenly leaped forth to break the threatening power of monopoly 
which the great east and west railroad lines for a while enjoyed. 

The first step in the historic progress of this grand revolution in the 
commercial relations and connections of the entire Mississippi and Mis- 
souri valley regions, was the successful construction of the jetties at the 
mouth of the Mississippi river by Capt. James B. Eads, a worthy and 
distinguished citizen of St. Louis. This great enterprise was undertaken 
by Capt. Eads under an act of congress approved March 3d, 1875. It 
required him to obtain a channel 20 feet deep and 200 feet wide at the 
bottom, within thirty months from the passage of the act, upon which a 
payment of $500,000 would be made; and upon obtaining channels of two 
feet additional depth, with correspondingly increased widths at bottom, 
until a depth of 30 feet and a width at bottom of 350 feet was secured, 
payments of $500,000 were to be made, with additional payments for 
maintenance of channel. The total cost to the government of a channel 
30 feet deep by 350 feet wide would be $5,250,000. Capt. Eads was also 
to receive $100,000 per year for twenty years, to keep the works in repair 
and maintain the channel. 

Before the jetty works were commenced, there existed an immense bar 
of sand or silt, with a depth of only eight feet of water over it, between 
the deep water of the Mississippi and the navigable water of the Gulf. 
But at the close of the year there was a wide and ample channel of 23£ 
feet; and for the greater portion of the distance between the jetties, over 
this same bar, there was a channel from 28 to 35 feet deep. The scheme 
has been so entirely successful that it has attained a world-wide celebrity 
and commercial importance, owing to the fact that the largest class of 
sea-going vessels can now be towed in and out of the Mississippi river 
without risk or difficulty: and it is this achievement by our honored fellow- 
citizen which has made possible the success of the grain-barge system of 
shipments from St. Louis direct to Europe, that is now revolutionizing the 
entire trade and commerce of the major half of the United States. The 
following facts will serve to show what has already been accomplished in 
this direction. 

The total shipments of grain by the barge lines from St. Louis to New 
Orleans in the month of March 1881, was 2,348,093 bushels. 

The St. Louis Republican of April 2d, 1881, stated: 



104 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

" There were started from St. Louis yesterday about eighty trains of 
grain to New Orleans, or what amounts to the same thing, three different 
barge companies started tows down the river with 567,000 bushels of 
grain. This amount would have filled about 1,200 railway cars, and 
would have taken eighty trains of fifteen cars or sixty trains of twenty 
cars each to transport. "All this grain was put into fifteen barges, and a 
matter of 2,600 tons of miscellaneous freight besides. All these three 
tow-boats started down the river with a freight list that would have filled 
between thirteen and fourteen hundred railway cars, and will be delivered 
to New Orleans in from five to nine days. 

"The exact statement of the cost of transportation of flour from St. 
Louis via New Orleans to Liverpool and to Boston, per barrel, is ninety 
cents freight and four cents drayage to boat at levee at St. Louis, or ninety- 
four cents to Liverpool, while the freight per barrel to Boston by rail, in 
car-loads of one hundred and twenty-five barrels, from East St. Louis, is 
ninety-one cents, or from St. Louis (eight cents transfer across the bridge 
addecl,) ninety-nine cents, or five cents less to Liverpool by river and 
ocean, than by rail to Boston. This rate to Liverpool via New Orleans 
was negotiated March 30 by the St. Louis, New Orleans and Foreign 
Dispatch Company." 

George H. Morgan, Esq., secretary of the St. Louis "Merchant's 
Exchange," furnished the writer of this history with the following state- 
ment of grain shipments by barge line from St. Louis to New Orleans: 
1881. Wheat. Cora. Oats. Rye. 

February 232,248 126,770 22,423 

March 796,710 1,541,505 25,162 

April 819,038 1,312,432 24,916 

Total 1,847,996 2,980,707 50,078 22,423 

Thus it will be seen that the tide has fairly turned ; that St. Louis is now 
practically a commercial seaport, and will, within the next twelve months, 
become the greatest grain-shipping city on the American continent. 



RAILROADS IN MISSOURI. 

The earliest account of any movement in this state with regard to rail- 
roads is to the effect that on the 20th of April, 1835, a railroad convention 
was held in St. Louis, and resolutions were adopted in favor of building 
two railroads — one from St. Louis to Fayette, in Howard county; and the 
other one southward to Iron Mountain, Pilot Knob, etc.* The reason for 
projecting a railroad from St. Louis into the great iron region is obvious 
enough ; but why they should at that early day have thought of building 
more than one hundred and fifty miles of railroad to reach a town that 
was only twelve miles from Old Franklin, on the banks of the Missouri 
river, is an unsolved mystery. It indicates, at least, that those "early 

*The first steam railroad in this country was the Baltimore and Susquehanna line, in 
1830; though horse railroads had been used before, especially at coal mines and marble 
quarries, and in two cases engines had been used on such roads. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 105 

fathers" were not under the control of any narrow or shallow views con- 
cerning the practical value of railroads, or the future grandeur of St. 
Louis as the central point for all trans-Mississippi traffic. In this first 
railroad convention ever held west of the Allegheny Mountains there 
were sixty-four delegates in attendance, representing eleven counties; but 
practically nothing ever came of their deliberations. 

In 1840 a State Board of Internal Improvement was created, and it 
made a survey for a railroad from St. Louis to the Iron Mountain, by the 
way of Big River. February 7th, 1849, Col. Thomas H. Benton, sena- 
tor from Missouri, introduced into the U. S. senate a bill to provide for 
the location and construction of a central national road from the Pacific 
ocean to the Mississippi river, to be an iron railway where practicable, 
and the rest a wagon way. February 20th, same year, a public meeting 
was held in St. Louis, which petitioned the legislature for a charter and 
right-of-way for a railway across the state from St. Louis to the western 
boundary; and on the 12th of March this charter was granted. 

Next a meeting was held which called a national convention at St. 
Louis to consider the project of a national Pacific railway across the 
continent. This convention was held October 15, 16, 17, 18, 1849. Fif- 
teen states were represented ; the grand project was warmly commended, 
and a strong memorial sent to Congress asking the public authorities to 
take some action in the matter. 

Such was the beginning of definite moves toward a trans-continental 
railroad. 

The Missouri Pacific was the first railroad commenced and first finished 
in the State. Incorporated March 12, 1849; authorized capital $10,000,- 
000; opened to Cheltenham, March 23, 1852; amount of state aid, 
$7,000,000; St. Louis county aid $700,000; land sold, 127,209 acres; 
entire length from St. Louis to Kansas City, 382 miles; total cost, $14,- 
382,208. 

The successive stages of its construction were: Chartered, March 12, 
1859; first ground broken, by Mayor Kennett of St. Louis, July 4, 1851; 
road opened to Cheltenham, Dec. 23, 1852; to Kirkwood in May, and to 
Franklin July 23, 1853; completed to Washington, February 11, 1855; to 
Hermann, August 7, the same year;* and to Jefferson City, March 12, 1856 ; 
completed to California in Moniteau county, May, 14, 1858; to Tipton, 
July 26, same year; and to Syracuse, August, 1, 1859; opened to Otter- 

*November 1, 1855, a large excursion train left St. Louis to celebrate the opening of the 
railroad through to Medora station, about twenty miles beyond Hermann. It was a long 
train tilled with business men of ths city and their families, and the occasion was one or 
great festivity and rejoicing. But while the train was crossing the Gasconade river the 
bridge gave way, and plunged cars, bridge and people in one mixed and horrible wreck 
into the gulf of waters fifty feet down. The president and chief engineer of the road, and 
30 prominent citizens of St. Louis were killed, while scores of others were more or less 
injured. It was the first and the most terrible railroad accident that has ever occurred in 
the state. 



106 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

ville, August 24, 1860; to Smithton, November 1, same year; and to 
Sedalia in February 1861. Here it stopped during the first two years of 
the war. But Pettis county voted $75,000 to aid it, and Jackson county 
$200,000. Commenced running trains to Dresden, May 10, 1863; to 
Warrensburg, July 3, 1864; in 1865 the road was opened to Holden, May 
28; to Pleasant Hill, July 19; to Independence, September 19. Meanwhile 
work had been going on from Kansas City westward, the two gangs of 
workmen meeting at Independence; and on this 19th day of September, 
1865, the last rail was laid and the last spike driven, which connected 
Missouri's two principal cities with iron bands unbroken from east to west 
line of the noble commonwealth. On the next day, the president of the road 
Mr. Daniel R. Garrison, left Kansas City at 3 a. m., and arrived in St. Louis 
at 5 p. m., thus making the first through trip over the completed line. 

There is now not a county north of the Missouri river which has not 
one or more railroads within its limits; and of the seventy counties south 
of the Missouri, only 22 have no railroad reaching them. However, new 
roads and branches are being built each year, so that within a few years 
every county will be provided with good railroad facilities. 

January 1, 1880, there were, in round numbers, 3,600 miles of railroad 
in operation in the state, embraced in about fifty different main lines and 
branches, allowned by thirty-five different corporations, and operated by 
twenty-five different companies, as shown in the following table: 

Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe 22 Missouri Pacific 375 

Burlington and Southwestern 64 Quincy, Missouri and Pacific 75 

Cherry Valley 6 St. Joseph and Des Moines 45 

Chicago and Alton 264 St. Louis, Hannibal and Keokuk 48 

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 169^ St. Louis, Iron Mount'n and Southr'n 380 

Crystal City 4 St. Louis, Keokuk and Northwestern 132}£ 

Hannibal and St. Joseph 291% St. Louis, Salem and Little Rock 45 

Kansas City and Eastern 43 St. Louis and San Francisco 363% 

Kansas City, Ft. Scott and Gulf 8 Springfield and Western Missouri.. 20 

KansasCity, St. Joe and Council BlfFs 198 Union Railway and Transit Company 1 

Little River Valley and Arkansas 27 Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific 655 

Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska 70 West End Narrow Guage 16 

Missouri, Kansas and Texas 284 

Total 3,607 

POSTA.L AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES. 

There are within the state 15,208 miles of postal routes, of which 
10,426 miles are by stage and horseback, 575 miles by steamboat, and 
4,207 miles by railroad, the whole involving a cost for the year 1878-9 of 
$768,904. There are 1,700 post towns — but four states in the union have 
a greater number. These are all offices of registration, where letters and 
parcels can be registered for transmission through the males to all 
parts of this and foreign countries. In 200 Of these post-offices, money- 
orders may be purchased, payable at all similar offices in the United 
States, and a portion of them issue orders drawn on Great Britain, France,. 
Germany, Italy, Switzerland, etc. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 107 

There are in the state 562 telegraph stations, whence messages can be 

sent all over the telegraph world; 2,423 miles of line and 6,0<>0 miles of 

wire. 

MANUFACTURING. ■ 

The following statistics of the capital employed in manufacturing indus- 
tries, and the amount of production, is collated from careful estimates 
made in 1876, the latest at hand, although it is well known that great 
increase of these industries has been made since that date. These esti- 
mates showed that the state then contained 14,245 manufacturing estab- 
lishments, using 1,965 steam engines, representing 58,101 horse-power, 
465 water wheels, equaling 7,972 horse-power, and employing 80,000 
hands. The capital employed in manufacturing was about $100,000,- 
000; the material used in 1876 amounted to about $140,000,000; the 
wages paid were $40,000,000, and the products put upon the market 
were over $250,000,000. Outside of St. Louis the leading manufacturing 
counties of the state are Jackson, about $2,000,000 ; Buchanan, $7,000,- 
000; St. Charles, $4,500,000; Marion, $3,500,000; Franklin, $3,000,000; 
Greene, $1,500,000; Cape Girardeau, $1,500,000; Platte, Boone and 
Lafayette, upwards of $1,000,000 each, followed by several counties 
nearly reaching the last sum. 

The products of the different lines of manufacturing interests are, 

approximately, as follows: 

Fiouring Mills $30,000,000 Furniture $5,000,000 

Carpentering 20.000,000 Paints and painting 4.500.000 

Meut Packing 20,000.000 Carriages and Wagons 4.500,000 

Iron and Castings 15,000,000 Bricks 4,500,000 

Tobacco 14,000.000 Marble, Stone- work ;tnd Masonry. 4,000,000 

Clothing 11,000,000 Bakery Products 4,000,000 

Liquors 10,000.000 Tin. Copper and Sheet Iron 4,000,000 

Lumber 10.000.000 Sash, Doors and Blinds 8.250,000 

Bags and Bagging 7,000.060 Cooperage 3,000,000 

Saddlery 7.000,000 Blacksmithing 3,000.000- 

Oil 0.000.000 Bridie Building 2,500.000 

Machinery 6,000,000 Patent Medicines 2,500.000 

Printing and Publishing 5,500.000 Soap and Candles 2,500,000 

Molasses 5,000,000 Agricultural Implements 2,000.000 

Boots and Shoes 5,000,000 Plumbing and Gas-fitting 2,000,000 

Of the manufacturing in Missouri, more than three-fourths is done in 
St. Louis, which produced, in 1879, about $275,000,000 of manufactured 
articles. The city has, for some years past, ranked as the third in the 
United States in the amount of her manufactures, leaving a wide gap 
between her and Chicago and Boston, each of which cities manufactures 
a little more than one-half as much in amount as St. Louis, and leaves a 
doubt as to which of them is entitled to rank as the fourth manufactur- 
ing city. 

Flour. — In St. Louis there are twenty-four flouring mills, having a 
daily productive capacity of 11,000 barrels. The total amount of flour 
received and manufactured by the dealers and millers of St. Louis, in 



108 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

1879, was 4,154,757 barrels, of which over 3,000,000 were exported. They 
also made 425,963 barrels of corn meal arid 28,595 barrels of hominy and 
grits. Of their exports, 619,103 barrels were sent to European nations 
and to South America. 

Cotton. — There are in the city two mills, which consume from 15,000 
to 20,000 bales annually. To supply the manufactured cotton goods 
annually sold in St. Louis will require mills of ten times the capacity of 
those now in operation . 



PRINCIPAL CITIES. 



St. Louis is the commercial metropolis not only of the state of Missouri 
but also of the Mississippi and Missouri valley regions of country; and 
the history of Missouri is to a very large extent the history of St. Louis. 
There is so much concerning this imperial city embodied in other parts of 
this work that little need be added here. 

St. Louis is situated upon the west bank of the Mississippi, at an altitude 
of four hundred feet above the level of the sea. It is far above the highest 
floods that ever swell the Father of Waters. Its latitude is 38 deg., 37 
min., 28 sec, north, and its longitude 90 deg., 15 min., 16 sec, west. It is 
twenty miles below the mouth of the Missouri, and 200 above the conflu- 
ence of the Ohio. It is 744 miles below the falls of St. Anthony, and 
1194 miles above New Orleans. Its location very nearly bisects the 
direct distance of 1,400 miles between Superior City and the Balize. It 
is the geographical center of a valley which embraces 1,200,000 square 
miles. In its course of 3,200 miles the Mississippi borders upon Missouri 
470 miles. Of the 3,000 miles of the Missouri, 500 lie within the limits 
'of our own state, and St. Louis is mistress of more than 16,500 miles of 
river navigation. 

The Missouri Gazette, the first newspaper, w r as establised in 1808, by 
Joseph Charless, and subsequently merged in the present Missouri 
Republican. The town was incorporated in 1809, and a board of trustees 
elected to conduct the municipal government. In 1812 the territory of 
Missouri was designated, and a legislative assembly authorized. The 
Missouri Bank was incorporated in 1814. The first steamboat arrived at 
the foot of Market street in the year 1815, followed soon by others. 
In 1819 the first steamer ascended the Missouri, and the first through 
boat from New Orleans arrived, having occupied twenty-seven days in 
the trip. In 1821 a city directory was issued. The facts stated in this 
volume show that the town was then an important and thriving one. In 
1825 Lafayette visited the city and received a grand public ovation. This 
year the United States arsenal and Jefferson barracks were established. 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 109 

In 1827 there were hardly a dozen German families in St. Louis, where 
now there are as many thousands of them. In 1830 the population was 
6,654. In 1835 the first railroad convention was held. [See page 106.] 
In 1837 the population was 16,187, and 184 steamboats were engaged in 
the commerce of the city. The decade between 1840 and 1850 saw 
increased advancement in all kinds of industry, and in architectural 
growth. We find that in 1840 there were manufactured 19,075 barrels 
of flour, 18,656 barrels of whisky, and 1,075 barrels of beef inspected, 
and other branches of business had correspondingly increased. In 1846, 
the now extensive Mercantile Library was founded. The close of the 
decade, 1849, brought upon the city the double misfortune of fire and 
pestilence. On May 19th, the principal business section was swept away 
by a conflagration originating in a steamboat at the levee; and, during 
the summer of the same year, the population was scourged by cholera. 
In 1851, the. first railroad enterprise — the building of the Missouri Pacific 
— was inaugurated, and quickly followed by others. [See page 105.] 
The decennial increase of population has been as follows: 

Year. Pop. Year. Pop. Year. Pop. 

1799 925 1830 5,862 1860 160,733 

1810 1,400 1840 16,469 1870 310,864 

1820 4,928 1850 74,439 1880 350,522 

During 1880 St. Louis received 1,703,874 barrels of flour; manufactured 
2,077,625 barrels; and shipped 3,292,803 barrels. Of this amount 975,970 
barrels were shipped in sacks to England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Hol- 
land, France, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Cuba and Mexico. During the 
same year St. Louis shipped 11,313,879 bushels of wheat; and of this 
amount 5,913,272 bushels went to foreign countries via New Orleans, 
while the rest went eastward by rail. The receipts of corn were 22,298,- 
077 bushels; shipments, 17,571,322 bushels, of which 9,804,392 went by 
barges to New Orleans for foreign ports, 3,157,684 to the south for con- 
sumption, and 4 591,944 eastward by rail or Ohio river. The receipts of 
cotton were 496,570 bales, and shipments 478,219 bales. 

During the packing season of 1879-80, there were 927,793 hogs packed. 
The shipments of coffee reached $5,000,000, and that of sugar $8,500,000. 

The above principal items are gleaned from the commercial pantheon 
of statistics published in January, 1881, by the Merchants' Exchange of 
St. Louis. 

Kansas City. — In 1724 the Kansas tribe of Indians had their chief town 
a few miles below the mouth of the Kansas river, and M. DeBourgmont, 
the French commandant of this region, held a grand peace council with 
different tribes gathered at this place for the purpose, on July 3d of that 
year. This is the earliest historic record of white men in the vicinity of 
where Kansas City now stands. In 1808 the U. S. government established 



110 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

a fort and Indian agency here, calling it Fort Osage, which was not 
abandoned until 1825, when the Indian title to a certain strip of country 
here was extinguished. In 1821 Francis G. Chouteau established a trad- 
ing post on the Missouri river about three miles below the site of Kansas 
City, but a flood in the spring of 1826 swept away everything he had, and 
he then settled six miles up the Kansas river. 

The original town plat of Kansas City consisted of 40 acres, and was 
laid out in 1839. In 1846 some additional ground was laid off, and a 
public sale of lots netted $7,000, averaging $200 per lot. 

The first charter was procured in the winter of 1852-3, and in the 
spring of 1853 was organized the first municipal government. The first 
established newspaper made its appearance in 1854, with the title of the 
■" Kansas City Enterprise," now known as the " Kansas City Journal." 
During the years 1855-6-7, the border troubles very visibly affected the 
prosperity of the city, so that business in those years did not exceed, all 
told, the sum of $2,000,000; but at the close of the struggle, in 1857, busi- 
ness began to revive, and it was then stated, in the St. Louis "Intelligen- 
cer," that she had the largest trade of any city of her size in the world. 
This may be distinguished as the great steamboat era. It was estimated 
that, in the year 1857, one hundred and twenty-five boats discharged at the 
Kansas City levee over tvventv-five million pounds of merchandise. In 
May of this year, also, the steamboats were employed to carry the United 
States mail, and in 1858 the first telegraph pole in Jackson county was 
erected. 

The first bank established in Kansas City was a branch of the Mechan- 
ics' Bank, of St. Louis, organized May 1, 1859, and the second was a 
branch of the Union Bank, organized in July of the same year. The first 
jobbing dry goods house opened in July, 1S57. The first city loan for 
local improvement was made in 1855, amounting to $10,000, all taken at 
home, and expended in improving and widening the levee; and, in 1858, 
another loan of $100,000 for street improvements. Only in the matter of 
railroads was Kansas City seriously affected by the panic of 1857; gov- 
ernment moneys, immigration over the border, and the New Mexican 
trade tiding her safely over the sea of financial excitement and prostra- 
tion. She had also become, even as early as the year 1854, a noted mart 
for the purchase and sale of live stock, the immense freighting across the 
plains inviting trade in this direction, and in the annual reviews of the 
papers it is said that, in 1857, the receipts for that year, in mules and cattle, 
were estimated at $200,000, and also that, in 1858, about 20,000 head of 
stock cattle were driven here from Texas and the Indian territory. In 
1857 over six' hundred freighting wagons left Kansas City with loads for 
Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

The principal railroads centering at Kansas City are, the Hannibal & 



HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. Ill 

St. Joseph railroad, the Kansas Pacific railroad, Uie Kansas City, Law- 
rence & Southern railroad, the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf railroad, 
the Chicago & Alton railroad, the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, the 
Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs railroad, the Missouri Pacific 
railway, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway, the Wabash, St. Louis 
& Pacific railway, the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe railroad, the Kansas 
City & Eastern railroad, (narrow gauge). The Atchison, Topeka & 
Santa Fe railroad has extended its road to Albuquerque, New Mexico, 
and to Guyamas, on the Pacific coast ; to San Francisco, California, and 
is building to the City of Mexico. 

The elevator storage capacity in the city January 1, 1881, was 1,500,- 
000 bushels. In 1879 about 1,600 new buildings were erected, costing 
$1,500,000. The U. S. postoffice and custom house building cost $200,- 
000. The union depot building cost $300,000. The Kansas City stock 
yards rank as second only to those of Chicago in the extent and com- 
pleteness of their facilities for the cattle trade. 

The population of Kansas City, by U. S. census in June, 1880, was 
62,977 Taxable wealth, $13,378,950. Cost of new buildings erected 
during the year 1880, $2,200,000* 

St. Joseph. In 1803 Joseph Robidon, a French fur trader, located 
here, and continued to occupy his place and trade with the Indians for 33 
years. Up to 1843 the place contained only two log cabins, and a small 
flouring mill on Black Snake creek. In June, 1843, Mr. Robidoux 
received his title from the government to 160 acres of land, and laid out 
the city, which was called St. Joseph in his honor, and not, as is commonly 
supposed, in honor of the Saint Joseph of the church calendar. January 
1, 1846, the town had 600 inhabitants, having been incorporated as a vil- 
lage February 26, 1845, with Joseph Robidoux as president of the board 
of trustees. The first city charter was obtained February 22, 1851, but it 
has been many times amended. The population was : In 1850, 3,460 ; in I860, 
8,932; in 1870, 19,625; in 1880, 32,461. 

St. Joseph is situated on the east bank of the Missouri, 545 miles from 
its mouth, 2,000 miles from the great falls, nearly 1,300 miles below the 
mouth of the Yellowstone, 310 miles from St. Louis by railroad, with 
which it is connected by three different lines, and 565 miles from St. Louis 
by river; but it is only 180 miles on an air line from the Mississippi river. 
The latitude of St. Joseph is 39 degrees 47 minutes north, and the same 
parallel passes through Indianapolis, and within less than four miles of 
Denver, Colorado, Springfield, Illinois, and the famous Mason and Dixon's 
line, separating Maryland and Pennsylvania, reaching the Atlantic coast 
half way from Cape May to New York City, and the Pacific, two degrees 

♦These statistics are gathered mostly from the able annual reports of W. H. Miller, Esq., 
who has been secretary of the Kansas City Board of Trade continuously since 1873. 



112 HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. 

north of San Francisco, near Cape Mendicino. A straight line drawn on 
the map from Augusta, the capital of Maine, to San Diego in California, 
passes through Detroit, Chicago, and St. Joseph, and this last city is just 
half way from end to end of this line 

St. Joseph has an altitude of about 1,030 feet above the sea, which is 
200 feet higher than St. Paul, 400 feet higher than Chicago, and nearly 
600 feet higher than St. Louis. The city is romantically and beautifully 
situated, the business portion lying in a huge basin on a great bend in the 
Missouri river, while the residence part of the city clambers up the 
mound-shaped hills, which rise on all sides like a vast amphitheater. 

The wholesale and retail trade is figured above $40,000,000 annually, 
while it is said that there are no fewer than eight commercial houses which 
have a cash capital of $1,000,000 each. It is stated on reliable authority, 
that there is handled at this point 15,000,000 bushels of corn, 5,000,000 of 
wheat, 250,000 rye, and 500,000 barley, per annum. The stock yards cover 
seven acres, and belong to a stock company. There are received at the 
yards 120,000 to 150,000 hogs per annum, and 10,000 to 12,000 cattle. 
The figures do not include direct shipments to several large packing 
houses, which will increase the number of hogs to 300,000. There are 
four packing houses in the city— one having a capacity of 15,000 hogs 
per day. 

The railroad lines which connect St. Joseph with the rest of the busi- 
ness world are the Hannibal & St. Joseph, the pioneer road of the state, 
extending east across the entire state to Hannibal and Quincy on the Miss- 
issippi river; the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, forming a direct line to St. 
Louis; the St. Joseph & Western, extending across the great iron bridge, 
through Kansas and Nebraska, to a junction at Grand Island with the 
Union Pacific, of which it is really a part; the Missouri Pacific, another 
connecting line with St. Louis; the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council 
Bluffs, extending south to Kansas City and north to Omaha, with its 
Nodaway Valley branch, extending through the Nodaway valley, and its 
Chicago branch, making connection with the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy; the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; the St. Joseph & Des 
Moines, now owned and operated by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; 
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, and the Atchison & Nebraska. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more -perfect union, 
establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common 
defense, promote the general zirlfarc, and secure the blessings of liberty 
to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitu- 
tion for the United States of America. 

ARTICLE I. 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a 
congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house 
of representatives. 

Sec 2. The house of representatives shall be composed of members 
chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the 
electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of 
the most numerous branch of the state legislature. 

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the 
age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in 
which he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- 
eral states which may be included within this Union, according to their 
respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole 
number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of 
years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. 
The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first 
meeting of the congress of the United States, and within every subsequent 
term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The num- 
ber of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but 
each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumer- 
ation shall be made the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose 
three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, 
Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, 
Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, and 
Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the exec- 
utive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 

The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other 
officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

Sec. 3. The senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof for six years; 
and each senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first 
election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. 
The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- 
tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth 
year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one- 
third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resig- 
nation or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the 
executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next 
meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. 

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of 
thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who 



114 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 

shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall 
be chosen. 

The vice-president of the United States shall be president of the senate, 
but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president -pro 
tempore, in the absence of the vice-president, or when he shall exercise 
the office of president of the United States. 

The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When 
sitting for that purpose thev shall be on oath or affirmation. When the 
president of the United States is tried, the chief-justice shall preside. 
And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds 
of the members present. 

Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of 
honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted 
shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and 
punishment according to law. 

Sec. 4. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators 
and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature 
thereof; but the congress may at any time by law make or alter such 
regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators. 

The congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meet- 
ing shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law 
appoint a different day. 

Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and 
qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute 
a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to 
day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members 
in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of it's proceedings, punish its mem- 
bers for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, 
expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to 
time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, 
require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on 
any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present^ be entered 
on the journal. 

■Neither house, during the session of congress, shall, without the consent 
of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place 
than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 

Sec. 6. The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation 
for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury 
of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and 
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at 
the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from 
the same; and for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be 
questioned in any other place. 

No senator or representative shall, during the time for which he was 
elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United 
States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall 
have been increased during such time; and no person holding any office 
under the United States shall be a member of either house during his 
continuance in office. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 115 

Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of 
representatives; but the senate may propose or concur with amendments 
as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the house of representatives and 
the senate shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the president of 
the United States: if he approve he shall sign it; but if not he shall 
return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- 
nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and pro- 
ceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that 
house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- 
tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and 
if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all 
such cas e s the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, 
and the names of the persons voting for and against the bilf shall be entered 
on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned 
by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have 
been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he 
had signed it, unless the congress, by their adjournment, prevents its 
return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the senate 
and house of representatives may be necessary (except on a question of 
adjournment), shall be presented to the president of the United States, 
and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by him, or, being 
disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of the senate and 
house of representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed 
in the case of a bill. 

Sec. S. The congress shall have power — 

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, 
and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United 
States; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout 
the United States; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
states, and with the Indian tribes; 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the 
subject of bankruptcies* throughout the United States; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, and fix 
the standard of weights and measures; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and cur- 
rent coin of the United States; 

To establish post offices and post roads; 

To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, for 
limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respec- 
tive writings and discoveries; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas; 
and offenses against the law of nations: 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of monev to that use 
shall be for a longer term than two years; 

To provide and maintain a navy: 

To make rules for government and regulation of the land and naval forces ; 



116 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, 
suppress insurrections, and repel invasions; 

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for 
governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the 
United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the 
officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline 
prescribed by congress; 

To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not 
exceeding ten miles square) as may by cession of particular states, and 
the acceptance of congress, become the seat of the government of the 
United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by 
the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for 
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful 
buildings; and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this 
constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department 
or officer thereof. 

Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the 
states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by 
the congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but 
a tax of duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten 
dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless 
when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex -post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to 
the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- 
enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels 
bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in 
another. 

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of 
appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the 
receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from 
time to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States ; and no per- 
son holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the 
consent of the congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title 
of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign state. 

Sec. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; 
grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; 
make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; 
pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obliga- 
tion of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. 

No state shall, without the consent of the congress, lay any imposts or 
duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary 
for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and 
imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the 
treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the 
revision and control of the congress. 

No state shall, without the consent of congress, lay any duty on tonnage, 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 117 

keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement 
or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in 
war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit 
of delay. 

ARTICLE II. 

Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a president of the 
United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of 
four years, and, together with the vice-president chosen for the same term, 
be elected as follows : 

Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may 
direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and 
representatives to which the state may be entitled in the congress; but no 
senator or representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit 
under the United States shall be appointed an elector. 

[*The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot 
for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the 
same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons 
voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign 
and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of government of the United 
States, directed to the president of the senate. The president of the sen- 
ate shall, in the presence of the senate and house of representatives, open 
all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person hav- 
ing the greatest number of votes shall be the president, if such number be 
a majority of the whole number of electors appointed: and if there be 
more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of 
votes, then the house of representatives shall immediately choose by bal- 
lot, one of them for president; and if no person have a majority, then from 
the five highest on the list the said house shall in like manner choose the 
president. But, in choosing the president, the vote shall be taken by states, 
the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this 
purpose shall consist of a member, or members, from two-thirds of the 
states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. In 
every case, after the choice of the president, the person having the great- 
est number of votes of the electors shall be the vice-president. But if 
there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the senate shall 
choose from them, by ballot, the vice-president.] 

The congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the 
day on which they shall give their votes, which day shall be the same 
throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United 
States at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to 
the office of president; neither shall any person be eligible to that office 
who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen 
years a resident within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, res- 
ignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, 
the same shall devolve on the vice-president, and the congress may by law 
provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of 
the president and vice-president, declaring what officer shall then act as 

*This clause between brackets has been superseded and annulled by the twelfth amend- 
ment. 



US CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 

/ 

president, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability rx 
removed, or a president shall be elected. 

The president shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compen- 
sation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period 
for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive during that 
period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them. 

Before he enters upon the execution of his office he shall take the fol- 
lowing oath, or affirmation: 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office 
of president of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, pre- 
serve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States." 

Sec. 2. The president shall be commander-in-chief of the army and 
navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when 
called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the 
opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive depart- ' 
ments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, 
and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against 
the United States, except in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, bv and with the advice and consent of the senate, 
to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur; and 
he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the senate, shall appoint 
embassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the supreme 
court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointments are 
not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established bv law; 
but the congress may, by law, vest the appointment of such inferior officers 
as they think proper in the president alone, in the courts of law, or in the 
heads of departments. 

The president shall have power to rill up all vacancies that may happen 
during the recess of the senate, by granting commissions which shall 
expire at the end of their next session. 

Sec 3. He shall, from time to time, ffive to the congress information 
of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such 
measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraor- 
dinary occasions, convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of 
disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he 
may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive 
embassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be 
faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. 
^ Sec. 4. The president, vice-president and all civil officers of the United 
States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, 
treason, briber}-, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III. 

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in 
one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from 
time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and 
inferior courts, shall hold their office during good behavior, and shall, at 
stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be 
diminished during their continuance in office. 

Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, 
arising under this constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties 
made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to all cases affecting 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 119 

embassadors, other public ministers and consuls: to all cases of admiralty 
and maritime jurisdiction: to controversies to which the United States shall 
be a party; to controversies between two or more states: between a state 
and citizens of another state; between citizens of different states; between 
citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states; 
and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or 
subjects. 

In all cases affecting embassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, 
and those in which a state shall be a party, the supreme court shall have 
original jurisdiction. 

In all the other cases before mentioned, the supreme court shall have 
appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and 
under such regulations as the congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be bv jurv ; 
and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall "have 
been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall 
be at such place or places as the congress may bv law have directed. 

Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying 
war against them, or in adhering to- their enemies, giving them aid and 
comfort. Xo person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony 
of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. 

The congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, 
but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, 
except during the life of the person attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the 
public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of everv other state. And 
the congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such 
acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 

Sec 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to ail privileges and 
immunities of citizens in the several states. 

A person charged in any state with treason, felonv, or other crime, who 
shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand of 
the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to 
be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof, 
escaping into another, shall, in consequence of anv law or regulation 
therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered 
up on claim of the part}- to whom such service or labor mav be due. 

Sec 3. New states may be admitted by congress into this Union: but 
no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of anv 
other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more 
states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the 
states concerned, as well as of the congress. 

The congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules 
and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to 
the United States: and nothing in this constitution shall be so construed as 
to prejudice any claims of the United States or of anv particular state. 

Sec 4. The United States shall guarantee to everv state in this union 
a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against 
invasion, and on application of the legislature, or of the executive ^when 
the legislature can not be convened », against domestic violence. 



120 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ARTICLE V. 

The congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it neces- 
sary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the application 
of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states shall call a conven- 
tion for proposing amendments, which, in either case shall be valid to all 
intents and purposes as part of this constitution, when ratified by the leg- 
islatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three- 
fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be pro- 
posed by the congress. Provided, that no amendment which may be 
made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any 
manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first 
article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal 
suffrage in the senate. 

ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption 
of this constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this 
constitution as under the confederation. 

This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be 
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, 
under the authority of the United States, shall be the. supreme law of the 
land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in 
the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of 
the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both 
of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or 
affirmation to support this constitution ; but no religious test shall ever be 
required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United 
States. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The ratification of the conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for 
the establishment of this constitution between the states so ratifying the 
same. 

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the seventeenth day of 
September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and 
of the independence of the United States of America, the twelfth. In witness whereof we 
have hereunto subscribed our names. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON, 



President, and Deputy from Virginia. 



New Hampshire. 
John Langdon, 
Nicholas Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 
Nathaniel Gorham, 
Rufus King. 

Connecticut. 
Wm. Samuel Johnson, 
Roger Sherman. 

New York. 
Alexander Hamilton. 

New Jersey. 
Wil. Livingston, 
Wm. Patterson, 
David Brearley, 
Jona. Dayton. 



Delaware. 
George Reed, 
John Dickinson, 
Jacob Broom, 
Gunning Bedford, Jr., 
Richard Bassett. 

Maryland. 
James M'Henry, 
Danl. Carroll, 
Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. 

Virginia. 
John Blair, 
James Madison, Jr. 

North Carolina. 
Wm. Blount. 
Hu. Williamson, 
Richard Dobbs Spaight. 



Pennsylvania. 
B. Franklin, 
Robt. Morris, 
Thos. Fitzsimons, 
James Wilson, 
Thos. Mifflin, 
Geohge Clymer, 

JaRED InGERSOLL, 

Gouv. Morris. 

South Carolina. 
J. Rutledge, 
Charles Pinckney, 
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney 
Pierce Butler. 

Georgia. 
Wm. Few, 
Abr. Baldwin. 



WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 



amendments to the constitution. 121 

Articles in Addition to and Amendatory of the Constitution 
of the United States of America. 

Proposed by Congress and Ratified 5v the Legislatures of the several 
States pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 

ARTICLE I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or 
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, 
or of the press ; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to 
petition the government for a redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, 
the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 

ARTICLE III. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without 
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be pre- 
scribed by law. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, 
and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- 
lated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by 
oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched 
and the persons or things to be seized. 

ARTICLE V. 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous 
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in 
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual 
service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject 
for the same offense, to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall 
be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself, nor be 
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor 
shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy 
and public trial, by an impartial jurv of the state and district wherein the 
crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously 
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the 
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have com- 
pulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assist- 
ance of counsel for his defense. 

ARTICLE VII. 

In suits at common law r , where the value in controversy shall exceed 
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 
tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United 
States than according to the rules of the common law. 



122 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor 
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. 

The enumeration, in the constitution, of certain rights, shall not be con- 
strued to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor 
prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to 
the people. 

ARTICLE XL 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend 
to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the 
United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any 
foreign state. 

ARTICLE XII. 

Sec 1. The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot 
for president and vice-president, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhab- 
itant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots 
the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person 
voted for as vice-president, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons 
voted for as president, and of all persons voted for as vice-president, and 
of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and 
transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government of the United States, 
directed to the president of the senate. The president of the senate shall, 
in presence of the senate and house of representatives, open all the certifi- 
cates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the great- 
est number of votes for president shall be the president, if such number 
be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person 
have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not 
exceeding three on the list of those voted for as president, the house of 
representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the president. But in 
choosing the president, the votes shall be taken by states, the representa- 
tives from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall con- 
sist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority 
of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the house of rep- 
resentatives shall not choose a president whenever the right of choice 
shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, 
then the vice-president shall act as president, as in the case of the death or 
other constitutional disability of the president. The person having the 
greatest number of votes as vice-president shall be the vice-president, if 
such number be the majority of the whole number of electors appointed 
and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on 
the list the senate shall choose the vice-president; a quorum for that pur- 
pose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of senators, and a 
majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no 
person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible 
to that of vice-president of the United States. 



AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 123 

ARTICLE XIII. 

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a pun- 
ishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, 
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- 
diction. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropri- 
ate legislation. 

article xiv. 

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and 
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of 
the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law 
which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United 
States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction 
the equal protection of the law. 

Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states 
according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- 
sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed; but when the right to vote 
at any election for the choice of electors for president and vice-president 
of the United States, representatives in congress, the executive and judi- 
cial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied 
to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of 
age and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged except for 
participation in rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation therein 
shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens 
shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty -one years of age 
in such state. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be a senator or representative in congress, or 
elector of president and vice-president, or hold any office, civil or military, 
under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken 
an oath as a member of congress, or as an officer of the United States, or 
as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer 
of any state to support the constitution of the United States, shall have 
engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or 
comfort to the enemies thereof. But congress may, by a vote of two- 
thirds of each house, remove such disability. 

Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- 
ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- 
ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be 
questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or 
pay any debt or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion 
against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of 
any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal 
and void. 

Sec. 5. The congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate 
legislation, the provisions of this article. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on 
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

Sec. 2. The congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- 
priate legislation." 



Constitution of the State of Missouri, 

ADOPTED BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, OCTOBER 30, 1875. WENT INTO OPERATION 

NOVEMBER 30, 1875. 



PREAMBLE. 

We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme 
Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for his goodness, do, for the better 
government of the state, establish this constitution. 

ARTICLE I. — BOUNDARIES. 

Section 1. The boundaries of the state as heretofore established by 
law, are hereby ratified and confirmed. The state shall, have concurrent 
jurisdiction on the river Mississippi, and every other river bordering on the 
state, so far as the said rivers shall form a common boundary to this state 
and any other state or states; and the river Mississippi and the navigable 
rivers and waters leading to the same, shall be common highways, and 
forever free to the citizens of this state and of the United States, without 
any tax, duty, import or toll therefor, imposed by this state. 

ARTICLE II. — BIIA, OF RIGHTS. 

In order to assert our rights, acknowledge our duties, and proclaim the 
principles on which our government is founded, we declare: 

Section 1. That all political power is vested in, and derived from the 
people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded 
upon their will onlv, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole. 

Sec. 2. That the people of this state have the inherent, sole and exclu- 
sive right to regulate the internal government and police thereof, and to 
alter and abolish their constitution and form of government whenever 
they may deem it necessary to their safety and happiness: Provided, 
Such change be not repugnant to the constitution of the United States. 

Sec. 3. That Missouri is a free and independent state, subject only to 
the constitution of the United States; and as the preservation of the 
states and the maintenance of their governments, are necessary to an 
indestructible Union, and were intended to co-exist with it, the legislature 
is not authorized to adopt, nor will the people of this state ever assent to 
any amendment or change of the constitution of the United States which 
may in any wise impair the right of local self-government belonging to 
the people of this state. 

Sec. 4. That all constitutional government is intended to promote the 
general welfare of the people ; that all persons have a natural right to life, 
liberty and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry; that to give 
security to these things is the principal office of government, and that 
when government does not confer this security, it fails of its chief design. 

Sec. 5. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship 
Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; that no 

(124) 






CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 125 

person can, on account of his religious opinions, be rendered ineligible to 
any office of trust or profit under this state, nor be disqualified from testi- 
fying, or from serving as a juror; that no human authority can control or 
interfere with the rights of conscience; that no person ought, by any law, 
to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persua- 
sion or profession ; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured, shall not 
be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, nor to justify practices 
inconsistent with the good order, peace or safety of this state, or with the 
rights of others. 

Sec. 6. That no person can be compelled to erect, support or attend 
any place or system of worship, or to maintain or support any priest, min- 
ister, preacher or teacher of any sect, church, creed or denomination of re- 
ligion; but if any person shall voluntarily make a contract for any such 
object, he shall be held to the performance of the same. 

Sec. 7. That no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, 
directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion, 
or in aid of any priest, preacher, minister or teacher thereof, as such; and 
that no preference shall be given to, nor any discrimination made against 
any church, sect or creed of religion, or any form of religious faith or wor- 
ship. 

Sec. S. That no religious corporation can be established in this state,, 
except such as may be created under a general law for the purpose only 
of holding the title to such real estate as may be prescribed by law for 
church edifices, parsonages and cemeteries. 

Sec 9. That all elections shall be free and open ; and no power, civil 
or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the 
right of suffrage. 

Sec 10. The courts of justice shall be open to every person, and cer- 
tain remedy afforded for every injury to person, property or character, 
and that right and justice should be administered without sale, denial or 
delay. 

Sec 11. That the people shall be secure in their persons, papers,, 
homes and effects, from unreasonable searches and seizures; and no war- 
rant to search any place, or seize any person or thing, shall issue without 
describing the place to be searched, or the person or thing to be seized, as 
nearly as may be; nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affir- 
mation reduced to writing. 

Sec 12. That no person shall, for felony, be proceeded against crimi- 
nally otherwise than by indictment, except in cases arising in the land or 
naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or pub- 
lic danger; in all other cases, offenses shall be prosecuted criminally by in- 
dictment or information as concurrent remedies. 

Sec 13. That treason against the state can consist only in levying 
war against it, or in adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort; 
that no person can be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two 
witnesses to the same overt act, or on his confession in open court; that 
no person can be attainted of treason or felony by the general assembly; 
that no conviction can work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate; 
that the estates of such persons as may destroy their own lives shall 
descend or vest as in cases of natural death: and when any person shall 
be killed by casualty, there shall be no forfeiture by reason thereof. 

Sec 14. That no law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech; 



126 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

that every person shall be free to say, write or publish whatever he will 
on any subject, being responsible for all abuse of that liberty; and that in 
all suits and prosecutions for libel, the truth thereof may be given in evi- 
dence, and the jury, under the direction of the court, shall determine the 
law and the fact. 

Sec. 15. That no ex -post facto law, nor law impairing the obligation 
of contracts, or retrospective in its operation, or making any irrevocable 
grant of special privileges or immunities, can be passed by the general 
assembly. 

Sec. 16. That imprisonment for debt shall not be allowed, except for 
the nonpayment of fines and penalties imposed for violation of law. 

Sec. 17. That the right of no citizen to keep and bear arms in defense 
of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereto 
legally summoned, shall be called in question; but nothing herein con- 
tained is intended to justify the practice of wearing concealed weapons. 

Sec. 18. That no person elected or appointed to any office or employ- 
ment of trust or profit under the laws of this state, or any ordinance of 
any municipality in this state, shall hold such office without personally 
devoting his time to the performance of the duties to the same belonging. 

Sec. 19. That no person who is now, or may hereafter become a col- 
lector or receiver of public money, or assistant or deputy of such collector 
or receiver, shall be eligible to any office of trust or profit in the state ®f 
Missouri under the laws thereof, or of any municipality therein, until he 
shall have accounted for and paid over all the public money for which he 
may be accountable. 

Sec. 20. That no private property can be taken for private use with or 
without compensation, unless by the consent of the owner, except for pri- 
vate ways of necessity, and except for drains and ditches across the lands 
of others for agricultural and sanitary purposes, in such manner as may be 
prescribed by law ; and that whenever an attempt is made to take private 
property for a use alleged to be public, the question whether the contem- 
plated use be really public shall be a judicial question, and as such, judi- 
cially determined, without regard to any legislative assertion that the use 
is public. 

Sec. 21. That private property shall not be taken or damaged for pub- 
lic use without just compensation. Such compensation shall be ascer- 
tained by a jury or board of commissioners of not less than three free- 
holders, in such manner as may be prescribed by law ; and until the same 
shall be paid to the owner, or into court for the owner, the property shall 
not be disturbed, or the proprietary rights of the owner therein divested. 
The fee of land taken for railroad tracts without consent of the owner 
thereof, shall remain in such owner, subject to the use for which it is 
taken. 

Sec. 22. In criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to 
appear and defend, in person, and by counsel; to demand the nature and 
cause of the accusation ; to meet the witnesses against him face to face ; to 
have process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a 
speedy, public trial by an impartial jury of the county. 

Sec. 23. That no person shall be compelled to testify against himself 
in a criminal cause, nor shall any person, after being once acquitted by a 
jury, be again, for the same offense, put in jeopardy of life or liberty; but 
if the jury to which the question of his guilt or innocence is submitted 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 127 

fail to render a verdict, the court before which the trial is had may, in its 
discretion, discharge the jury and commit or bail the prisoner for trial at 
the next term of court, or if the state of business will permit, at the same 
term ; and if judgment be arrested after a verdict of guilty on a defective 
indictment, or if judgment on a verdict of guilty be reversed for error in 
law, nothing herein contained shall prevent a new trial of the prisoner on 
a proper indictment, or according to correct principles of law. 

Sec 24. That all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, ex- 
cept for capital offenses, when the proof is evident or the presumption great. 

Sec. 25. That excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted. 

Sec 26. That the privilege of the writ of habeas corfus shall never 
be suspended. 

Sec 27. That the military shall always be in strict subordination to 
the civil power; that no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any 
house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, except in the 
manner prescribed by law. 

Sec 28. The right of trial by jury, as heretofore enjoyed, shall remain 
inviolate; but a jury for the trial of criminal or civil cases, in courts not of 
record, may consist of less than twelve men, as may be prescribed by law. 
Hereafter, a grand jury shall consist of twelve men, any nine of whom 
concurring may find an indictment or a true bill. 

Sec 29. That the people have the right peaceably to assemble for 
their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of gov- 
ernment for redress of grievances by petition or remonstrance. 

Sec 30. That no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property 
without due process of law. 

Sec 31. That there cannot be in this state either slavery or involun- 
tary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall 
have been duly convicted. 

Sec 32. The enumeration in this constitution of certain rights shall 
not be construed to deny, impair, or disparage others retained by the 
people. 

ARTICLE III. — THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS. 

The powers of government shall be divided into three distinct depart- 
ments — the legislative, executive, and judicial — each of which shall be con- 
fided to a separate magistracy and no person, or collection of persons, 
charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of those 
departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the 
others, except in the instances in this constitution expressly directed or 
permitted. 

ARTICLE IV.— LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. 

Section 1. The legislative power, subject to the limitations herein 
contained, shall be vested in a senate and house of representatives, to be 
styled " The General Assembly of the State of Missouri." 

REPRESENTATION AND APPORTIONMENT. 

Sec 2. The house of representatives shall consist of members to be 
chosen every second year by the qualified voters of the several counties, 
and apportioned in the following manner: The ratio of representation shall 
be ascertained at each apportioning session of the general assembly, by 



128 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

dividing the whole number of inhabitants of the state, as ascertained by 
the last decennial census of the United States, by the number two hun- 
dred. Each county having one ratio, or less, shall be entitled to one rep- 
resentative; each county having two and a half times said ratio, shall be 
entitled to two representatives; each county having four times said ratio, 
shall be entitled to three representatives; each county having six times 
such ratio, shall be entitled to four representatives, and so on above that 
number, giving one additional member for every two and a half additional 
ratios. 

Sec. 3. When any countv shall be entitled to more than one repre- 
sentative, the county court shall cause such county to be subdivided into 
districts of compact and contiguous territory, corresponding in number to 
the representatives to which such county is entitled, and in population as 
nearlv equal as mav be, in each of whi^h the qualified voters shall elect 
one representative, who shall be a resident of such district: Provided, 
That when any county shall be entitled to more than ten representatives, 
the circuit court shall cause such county to be subdivided into districts, so 
as to give each district not less than two, nor more than four representa- 
tives, who shall be residents of such district; the population of the districts to 
be proportioned to the number of representatives to be elected therefrom. 

Sec. 4. Xo person shall be a member of the house of representatives 
who shall not have attained the age of twenty-four years, who shall not be 
a male citizen of the United States, who shall not have been a qualified 
voter of this state two years, and an inhabitant of the county or district 
which he may be chosen to represent, one year next before the day of his 
election, if such countv or district shall have been so long established, but 
if not, then of the countv or district from which the same shall have been 
taken, and who shall not have paid a state and county tax within one year 
next preceding the election. 

Sec. 5. The senate shall consist of thirty-four members, to be chosen 
by the qualified voters of their respective districts for four years. For the 
election of senators the state shall be divided into convenient districts, as 
nearlv equal in population as may be, the same to be ascertained by the 
last decennial census taken bv the United States. 

Sec 6. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the 
age of thirty years, who shall not be a male citizen of the United States, 
who shall not have been a qualified voter of this state three years, and an 
inhabitant of the district which he may be chosen to represent one year 
next before the dav of his election, if such district shall have been so long 
established; but if not, then of the district or districts from which the same 
shall have been taken, and who shall not have paid a state and county tax- 
within one year next preceding the election. When any county shall be 
entitled to more than one senator, the circuit court shall cause such county 
to be subdivided into districts of compact and contiguous territory, and of 
population as nearlv equal as ma}- be, corresponding in number with the 
senators to which such county may be entitled; and in each of these one 
senator, who shall be a resident of such district, shall be elected by the 
qualified voters thereof. 

Sec 7. Senators and representatives shall be chosen according to the 
rule of apportionment established in this constitution, until the next decen- 
nial census by the United States shall have been taken and the result 
thereof as to this state ascertained, when the apportionment shall be revised 







^ 




p-t~-i^? z 



l&> 






CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 129 

and adjusted on the basis of that census, and every ten years there- 
after upon the basis of the United States census; or if such census be not 
taken, or is delayed, then on the basis of a state census; such apportion- 
ment to be made at the first session of the general assembly afier each 
such census: Provided, That if at any time, or from any cause, the general 
assembly shall fail or refuse to district the state for senators, as required 
in this section, it shall be the duty of the governor, secretary of state, and 
attorney-general, within thirty days after the adjournment of the general 
assembly on which such duty devolved, to perform said duty, and to file in 
the office of the secretary of state a full statement of the districts formed 
by them, including the names of the counties embraced in each district, 
and the numbers thereof; said statement to be signed by them, and 
attested by the great seal of the state, and upon the proclamation of the 
governor, the same shall be as binding and effectual as if done by the 
general assembly. 

Sec 8. Until an apportionment of representatives can be made, in 
accordance with the provisions of this article, the house of representa- 
tives shall consist of one hundred and forty-three members, which shall be 
divided among the several counties of the state, as follows: The county of 
St. Louis shall have seventeen; the county of Jackson four; the county of 
Buchanan three; the counties of Franklin, Greene, Johnson, Lafayette, 
Macon, Marion, Pike, and Saline, each two, and each of the other coun- 
ties in the state, one. 

Sec. 9. Senatorial and representative districts may be altered, from 
time to time, as public convenience may require. When any senatorial 
district shall be composed of two or more counties, they shall be contigu- 
ous; such districts to be as compact as may be, and in the formation of 
the same no county shall be divided. 

Sec 10. The first election of senators and representatives, under this 
constitution, shall be held at the general election in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy-six, when the whole number of representa- 
tives, and the senators from the districts having odd numbers, who shall 
compose the first class, shall be chosen; and in one thousand eight hun- 
dred and seventy-eight, the senators from the districts having even num- 
bers, who shall compose the second class, and so on at each succeeding 
general election, half the senators provided for by this constitution shall 
be chosen. 

Sec 11. Until the state shall be divided into senatorial districts, in 
accordance with the provisions of this article, said districts shall be con- 
stituted and numbered as follows: 

The First District shall be composed of the counties of Andrew, Holt, 
Nodaway and Atchison. 

Second District — The counties of Buchanan, DeKalb, Gentry and 
Worth. 

Third District — The counties of Clay, Clinton and Platte. 

Fourth District— The counties of Caldwell, Ray, Daviess and Harrison. 

Fifth District — The counties of Livingston, Grundy, Mercer and Carroll. 

Sixth District — The counties of Linn, Sullivan, Putnam and Chariton. 

Seventh District — The counties of Randolph, Howard and Monroe. 

Eighth District — The counties of Adair, Macon and Schuyler. 

Ninth District — The counties of Audrain, Boone and Callaway. 
9 



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COXSTTTl'TTOX OF MJESUUKL 

Sec :. 19. T : each house shall be held with open doors, 

:y. 
The gene the year one thousand 

e _ . ... :::::: an die first Wedi 

I \ . - .rht hundred and 9f "-seven: and 

thereafte _ assembly shall meet in r _ session once onlv in 

ft : and such meeting shall be on the first Wednesdav after 
the first dav of Januarv next after :ions of the members thereof. 

Sec 31. Every adjournment or recess taken by the _r::eral assemblv 
for more than thi : of and be an adjournment 

tbe. 
Sec 32. Every adiournment or recess taken by the general assemblv 
for three lays w less, -aall be construed as not interrupting the session at 
which thev are had or taken, but as continuing the session for all the pur- 
poses mentioned in section sbrteei article. 

Sec 22 Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn 
for more than two days at anv one time, nor to any other place than that 
in which thetwc h : nses maybe sitting. 

LEGBLAT1VE PROCEEDINGS. 

- .- .- s of this state shall be: "Be it enacted 

by the Gener , - _Y '.'.-.. s :" 

Sec 35. Ne lav* shall be passec. except by bill, and no bill shall be so 
amended in its -sage through either house, as to chancre its original 
rurr :se. 

Sec 36. KDs mav originate in either house, and may be amended or 
rr acted by the rther; an D be read on three different days 

ich house. 

37. Xo bill shall be considered for final passage unless the same 
has been reported upon bv a committee and printed for the use of the 

: r: ; 

38. Xo hi . ot general appropriation bills, which may em- 
brace the various subjects and accounts for and on account of which moneys 
are appropriated, and except bills passed under the third subdivision of 
section fortv-four of this article I shall contain more than one subject, which 
sh ill :e zlrirlv r::rressri ir its title. 

Sec 39. All amendments adopted by either house to a bill pending 
and originating in the - ame, shall be incorpora te :. with the bill by engross- 
ment, and the bill as thus engrossed, shall be printed for the use of the 
members before its final g The engrossing and printing shall be 

the supervision of a committer . report to the house shall set 

forth, ir. g, that thev rind the bill truly engrossed, and that the 

printed copv furnished to the members is corr^ 

If a bili pas er house be returned . amended 

:ther, the house to which the same is retur 1 cause the 

amendment r edtc be printed under the same super- 

aon as provided in og seen sn, for the use of the mem- 

before final action on such a- arts. 

Sec 1. Xo bill shall become a law, unless on its final passage the 
vote be taken by : the members voting for and 

agair.-: e be entei te :urnal, and a majority of the members 

. h house be recorded thereon as voting in its favor. 



:t:tvt: :: : -:v?z 133 

S z : 52. No amendment to bills by ooe house shall be coocnrr 
bv the other, e :::- pi : jravoteof a m; : the members elected the re- 

taken bv veas and nays, and the names of those voting for and against 
recorded upon the journal thereof; and reports of committees of confer- 
ence shall be adopted in either house onlv bv the vote of a majority of the 
members elected thereto, taken by yeas and nays, and the names of those 
g recorded upon the journaL 

Shc 33. No act shall be revived or re-enacted by mere reference to 
the tide thereof! but the same shall be set forth at length, i s : .vere an 

oi. No act shall be amended by providing that designated words 

thereof be stricken out. or that designated words be inserted, or that desig- 

Drds be stricken out and others inserted in Ken thereof; but the 

words to be stricken out, or the words to be inserted, or the words to be 

:::;n:::: ; ::r _ :: ±e i;: it 

section amended, shall be set forth in full, as amended. 

5z j When a bill is put upon its final passage in either house, and, 

failing to pass, a motion is made to reconsider the vote by which : 
defeated, the vote upon such motion to reconsider shall be immediately 
taken, and the sub : ec: rir : ::" bri:rc the hiuse ":■;— is :: in - 

other busine — 

No law passed by the general assembly, except the general 
appropriation act. shall take effect or go into force until nine: -iter 

the adjournment of the session at which it was enacted, unless in case : I 
ar. r~t:;rr.:v. .v-:;h trr.trjt" : rr.us: r-r rx::-?r: :n the rrrinh.e :r ;r. 
the bodv of the ad . me general assembly shall, by a vote of two-thirds 
of all the members elected to each house, otherwise direct; saidvotr lobe 
taken bv veas and nays, an :. rntered upon the iournaL 



Sec. 37. X: bill >: 



Mr 



r. ::rr. ^:--.; r. . 



signed by the presiding off 
ar.i brfrrr such rr.Jrr ?hi' 
all other business, declare 1 

ns be made, he will sign the same, to the end that it may become a 
hv~ Tr.r ::_ 5'-;... :r.rr. br ::..: :.: .:":: i i: - ■ : : ; 

he shall, in rrr^r-jr :: e n session, and before any other 

business is e":cr:;.:r.ri. -h - -_ t ii;h :j.j: shili r-r r t : t 

journal, and the bill immexfrh: the other house. ha I reaches 

the other house the presiding officer thereof shall immediately suspend all 

as,annoi :::::::::::^:: -::thesa~e: 

shall thereupon be c respect, aa in the house in whic 

- : - _ • . 1: - - • - . ' 

.;:.. : rriss: - - - 

signed is not the -bstance and form as when considered and 

the house, or that any particular clause of this article of the 
ion has beer, violated _ uch objection shall be pa a 

upon by the house, and if susl residing officer shall withholi 

^ _ - bri- 

bers may embc d sax signataues, as a 

_ : the hii". Such rr::es:. 
the house, shall be noted upon the journal, and the original shall be an- 
nex e bill to be considerec _ r.-norin connectio n there v 
i:; 58. When the tafl has been - _ • 



134 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

ing section, it shall be the dut)' of the secretary of the senate, if the bill 
originated in the senate, and of the chief clerk of the house of representa- 
tives, if the bill originated in the house, to present the same in person, on 
the same day on which it was signed as aforesaid, to the governor, 
and enter the fact upon the journal. Ever)'- bill presented to the governor, 
and returned within ten days to the house in which the same originated, 
with the approval of the governor, shall become a law, unless it be in vio- 
lation of some provision ot this constitution. 

Sec. 39. Every bill presented as aforesaid, but returned without the 
approval of the governor, and with his objections thereto, shall stand as 
reconsidered in the house to which it is returned. The house shall cause 
the objections of the governor to be entered at large upon the journal, and 
proceed, at its convenience, to consider the question pending, which shall 
be in this form: "Shall the bill pass, the objections of the governor thereto 
notwithstanding?" The vote upon this question shall be taken by yeas 
and na}^s, and the names entered upon the journal, and if two-thirds of all 
the members elected to the house vote in the affirmative, the presiding 
officer of that house shall certify that fact on the roll, attesting the same 
by his signature, and send the bill, with the objections of the governor, to 
the other house, in which like proceedings shall be had in relation thereto; 
and if the bill receive a like majority of the votes of all the members elected 
to that house, the vote being taken by yeas and nays, the presiding officer 
thereof shall, in like manner, certify the fact upon the bill. The bill thus 
certified shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state, as an au- 
thentic act, and shall become a law in the same manner and with like effect 
as if it had received the approval of the governor. 

Sec. 40. Whenever the governor shall fail to perform his duty, as pre- 
scribed in section twelve, article V, of this constitution, in relation to any 
bill presented to him for his approval, the general assembly may, by joint 
resolution, reciting the fact of such failure and the bill at length, direct the 
secretary of state to enrol the same as an authentic act in the archives of 
the state, and such enrollment shall have the same effect as an approval by 
the governor: Provided, That such joint resolution shall not be submit- 
ted to the governor for his approval. 

Sec. 41 . Within five years after the adoption of this constitution all 
the statute laws of a general nature, both civil and criminal, shall be re- 
vised, digested, and promulgated in such manner as the general assembly 
shall direct; and a like revision, digest, and promulgation shall be made 
at the expiration of ever}' subsequent period of ten years. 

Sec. 42. Each house shall, from time to time, publish a journal of its 
proceedings, and the yeas and nays on any question shall be taken and 
entered on the journal at the motion of any two members. Whenever the 
yeas and nays are demanded, the whole list of members shall be called, 
and the names of the absentees shall be noted and published in the journal. 

LIMITATION ON LEGISLATIVE POWER. 

Sec. 43. All revenue collected and moneys received by the state from 
any source whatsoever, shall go into the treasury, and the general assem- 
bly shall have no power to divert the same, or to permit money to be drawn 
from the treasury, except in pursuance of regular appropriations made by 
law. All appropriations of money by the successive general assemblies 
shall be made in the following order: 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 135 

First, For the payment of all interest upon the bonded debt of the 
state that may become due during the term for which each general 
assembly is elected. 

Second, For the benefit of the sinking fund, which shall not be less an- 
nually than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

Third, For free public school purposes. 

Fourth, For the payment of the cost of assessing and collecting the 
revenue. 

Fifth, For the payment of the civil list. 

Sixth, For the support of the eleemosynary institutions of the state. 

Seventh, For the pay of the general assembly, and such other purposes 
not herein prohibited, as it may deem necessary; but no general assembly 
shall have power to make any appropriation of money for any purpose 
whatsoever, until the respective sums necessary for the purposes in this 
section specified have been set apart and appropriated, or to give pri- 
ority in its action to a succeeding over a preceding item as above enumer- 
ated. 

Sec 44. The general assembly shall have no power to contract or to 
authorize the contracting of any debt or liability on behalf of the state, or 
to issue bonds or other evidences of indebtedness thereof, except in the 
following cases: 

First, In renewal of existing bonds, when they cannot be paid at matu- 
rity, out of the sinking fund or other resources. 

Second, On the occurring of an unforeseen emergency, or casual defi- 
ciency of the revenue when the temporary liability incurred, upon the rec- 
ommendation of the governor first had, shall not exceed the sum of two 
hundred and fiftv thousand dollars for any one year, to be paid in not 
more than two years from and after its creation. 

Third, On the occurring of any unforeseen emergency or casual defi- 
ciency of the revenue, when the temporary liability incurred or to be incur- 
red shall exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for 
any one vear, the general assembly may submit an act providing for the 
loan, or lor the contracting of the liability, and containing a provision for 
levying a tax sufficient to pay the interest and principal when they become 
due, (the latter in not more than thirteen years from the date of its crea- 
tion) to the qualified voters of the state, and when the act so submitted 
shall have been ratified by a two-thirds majority, at an election held for 
that purpose, due publication having been made of the provisions of the 
act for at least three months before such election, the act thus ratified 
shall be irrepealable until the debt thereby incurred shall be paid, princi- 
pal and interest. 

Sec 45. The general assembly shall have no power to give or to lend, 
or to authorize the giving or lending of the credit of the state in aid of or 
to any person, association or corporation, whether municipal or other, or to 
pledge the credit of the state in any manner whatsoever, for the payment 
of the liabilities, present or prospective, of any individual, association of 
individuals, municipal or other corporation whatsoever. 

Sec 4(5. The general assembly shall have no power to make any 
grant, or to authorize the making of any grant of public money or thing of 
v^alue to any individual, association of individuals, municipal or other cor- 
poration whatsoever: Provided, That this shall not be so construed as to 
prevent the grant of aid in a case of public calamity. 



136 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

Sec. 47. The general assembly shall have no power to authorize any 
county, city, town or township, or other political corporation or subdivision 
of the state now existing, or that may be hereafter established, to lend its 
credit, or to grant public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any indi- 
vidual, association or corporation whatsoever, or to become a stockholder 
in such corporation, association or company. 

Sec. 48. The general assembly shall have no power to grant, or to 
authorize anv county or municipal authorit}^ to grant any extra compensa- 
tion, fee or allowance to a public officer, agent, servant or contractor, after 
service has been rendered or a contract has been entered into and per- 
formed in whole or in part, nor pay nor authorize the payment of any claim 
hereafter created against the state, or any county or municipality of the 
state under any agreement or contract made without express authority of 
law; and all such unauthorized agreements or contracts shall be null and 
void. 

Sec. 49. The general assembly shall have no power hereafter to sub- 
scribe or authorize the subscription of stock on behalf of the state, in any 
corporation or association except for the purpose of securing loans hereto- 
fore extended to certain railroad corporations by the state. 

Sec. 50. The general assembly shall have no power to release or 
alienate the lien held by the state upon any railroad, or in anywise change 
the tenor or meaning, or pass any act explanatory thereof; but the same 
shall be enforced in accordance with the original terms upon which it was 
acquired. 

Sec. 51. The general assembly shall have no power to release or ex- 
tinguish, or authorize the releasing or extinguishing, in whole or in part, 
the indebtedness, liability or obligation of any corporation or individual, to 
this state, or to any county or other municipal corporation therein. 

Sec. 52. The general assembly shall have no power to make any ap- 
propriation of money, or to issue any bonds or other evidences of indebted- 
ness for the payment, or on account, or in recognition of any claims audited, 
or that may hereafter be audited by virtue of an act entitled " An act to 
audit and adjust the war debt of the state, " approved March 19, 1874, or any 
act of a similar nature, until after the claims so audited shall have been 
presented to and paid by the government of the United States to the state 
of Missouri. 

Sec. 53. The general assembly shall not pass any local or special law: 

Authorizing the creation, extension or impairing of liens: 

Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, townships, wards or school 
districts : 

Changing the names of persons or places: 

Changing the venue in civil or criminal cases: 

Authorizing the laying out, opening, altering or maintaining roads, 
highways, streets or alleys: 

Relating to ferries or "bridges, or incorporating ferry or bridge compa- 
nies, except for the erection of bridges crossing streams which form 
boundaries between this and any other state: 

Vacating roads, town plats, streets or alleys: 

Relating to cemeteries, grave yards or public grounds not of the state: 

Authorizing the adoption or legitimation of children: 
• Locating or changing county seats: 

Incorporating cities, towns or villages, or changing their charters: 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 137 

For the opening and conducting of elections, or fixing or changing the 
places of voting: 
Granting divorces: 

Erecting new townships, or changing township lines, or the lines of 
school districts: 

Creating offices, or prescribing the powers and duties of officers in 
counties, cities, townships, election or school districts: 
Changing the law of descent or succession: 

Regulating the practice or jurisdiction of, or changing the rules of evi- 
dence in any judicial proceeding or inquiry before courts, justices* of the 
peace, sheriffs, commissioners, arbitrators or other tribunals, or providing 
or changing methods for the collection of debts, or the enforcing of judg- 
ments, or prescribing the effect of judicial sales of real estate: 

Regulating the fees or extending the powers and duties of aldermen, 
justices of the peace, magistrates or constables: 

Regulating the management of public schools, the building or repairing 
of school houses, and the raising of money for such purposes: 
Fixing the rate of interest: 

Affecting the estates of minors or persons Under disability: 
Remitting fines, penalties and forfeitures, or refunding moneys legally 
paid into the treasury: 

Exempting property from taxation: 
Regulating labor, trade, mining or manufacturing: 

Creating corporations, or amending, renewing, extending or explaining 
the charter thereof: 

Granting to any corporation, association or individual any special or 
exclusive right, privilege or immunity, or to any corporation, association or 
individual, the right to lay down a railroad track: 
Declaring any named person of age: 

Extending the time for the assessment or collection of taxes, or other- 
wise relieving any assessor or collector of taxes from the due performance 
of their official duties, or their securities from liability: 
Giving effect to informal or invalid wills or deeds: 
Summoning or empanneling grand or petit juries: 
For limitation of civil actions: 

Legalizing the unauthorized or invalid acts of any officer or agent of 
the state, or of any county or municipality thereof. In all other cases 
where a general law can be made applicable, no local or special law shall 
be enacted; and whether a general law could have been made applicable 
in any case, is hereby declared a judicial question, and as such shall be ju- 
dicially determined without regard to any legislative assertion on that 
subject. 

Nor shall the general assembly indirectly enact such special or local 
law by the partial repeal of a general law ; but laws repealing local or 
special acts may be passed. 

Sec 5 i. No local or special law shall be passed unless notice of the 
intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the locality where 
the matter or thing to be aflected may be situated, which notice shall state 
the substance of the contemplated law, and shall be published at least 
thirty days prior to the introduction into the general assembly of such 
bill, and in the manner to be provided by law. The evidence of such 
notice having been published, shall be exhibited in the general assembly 



138 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

before such act shall be passed, and the notice shall be recited in the act 
according to its tenor. 

Sec. 55. The general assembly shall have no power, when convened 
in extra session by the governor, to act upon subjects other than those 
specially designated in the proclamation by which the session is called, or 
recommended by special message to its consideration by the governor 
after it shall have been convened. 

Sec. 56. The general assembly shall have no power to remove the 
seat of goveEnment of this state from the city of Jefferson. 

ARTICLE V. — executive department. 

Section 1. The executive department shall consist of a governor,, 
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, 
attorney general and superintendent of public schools, all of whom, except 
the lieutenant governor, shall reside at the seat of government during 
their term of office, and keep the public records, books and papers there, 
and shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 2. The term of office of the governor, lieutenant governor, sec- 
retary of state, state auditor, -state treasurer, attorney general and super- 
intendent of public schools, shall be four years from the second Monday 
of January next after their election, and until their successors are elected 
and qualified; and the governor and state treasurer shall be ineligible to 
re-election as their own successors. At the general election to be held in 
the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, and every four 
years thereafter, all of such officers, except the superintendent of public 
schools, shall be elected, and the superintendent of public schools shall be 
elected at the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and 
seventy-eight, and every four years thereafter. 

Sec. 3. The returns of every election for the above named officers 
shall be sealed up and transmitted by the returning officers to the secre- 
tary of state, directed to the speaker of the house of representatives, who 
shall immediately, after the organization of the house, and before proceed- 
ing to other business, open and publish the same in the presence of a 
majority of each house of the general assembly, who shall for that pur- 
pose assemble in the hall of the house of representatives. The person 
having the highest number of votes for either of said offices shall be 
declared dulv elected; but if two or more shall have an equal and the 
highest number of votes, the general assembly shall, by joint vote, choose 
one of such persons for said office. 

Sec. 4. The supreme executive power shall be vested in a chief mag- 
istrate, who shall be styled "the governor of the state of Missouri." 

Sec. 5. The governor shall be at least thirty-five years old, a male, 
and shall have been a citizen of the United States ten years, and a resi- 
dent of this state seven years next before his election. 

Sec. 6. The governor shall take care that the laws are distributed and 
faithfully executed; and he shall be a conservator of the peace through- 
out the state. 

Sec. 7. The governor shall be commander-in-chief of the militia of 
this state, except when they shall be called into the service of the United 
States, and may call out the same to execute the laws, suppress insurrec- 
tion and repel invasion; but he need not command in person unless 
directed so to do by a resolution of the general assembly. 






CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 13f> 

Sec. 8. The governor shall have power to grant reprieves, commuta- 
tions and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses, except treason and 
cases of impeachment, upon such condition and with such restrictions and 
limitations as he may think proper, subject to such regulations as may be 
provided by law relative to the manner of applying for pardons. He shall, 
at each session of the general assembly, communicate to that body each 
case of reprieve, commutation or pardon granted, stating the name of the 
convict, the crime of which he was convicted, the sentence and its date, 
the date of the commutation, pardon or reprieve, and the reason for grant- 
ing the same. 

Sec 9. The governor shall, from time to time, give to the general 
assembly information relative to the state of the government, and shall 
recommend to its consideration such measures as he shall deem necessary 
and expedient. On extraordinary occasions he may convene the general 
assembly by proclamation, wherein he shall state specifically each matter 
concerning which the action of that body is deemed necessary. 

Sec 10. The governor shall, at the commencement of each session of 
the general assembly, and at the close of his term of office, give informa- 
tion by message, of the condition of the state, and shall recommend such 
measures as he shall deem expedient. He shall account to the general 
assembly, in such manner as may be prescribed by law, for all moneys 
received and paid out by him from any funds subject to his order, with 
vouchers; and at the commencement of each regular session, present esti- 
mates of the amount of money required to be raised by taxation for all 
purposes. 

Sec. 11. When anv office shall become vacant, the governor, unless 
otherwise provided by law, shall appoint a person to fill such vacancy, 
who shall continue in office until a successor shall have been duly elected 
or appointed and qualified according to law. 

Sec 12. The governor shall consider all bills and joint resolutions, 
which, having been passed by both houses of the general assembly, shall 
be presented to him. He shall, within ten days after the same shall have 
been presented to him, return to the house in which they respectively 
originated, all such bills and joint resolutions, with his approval endorsed 
thereon, or accompanied by his objections: Provided, That if the general 
assembly shall finally adjourn within ten days after such presentation, 
the governor may, within thirty days thereafter, return such bills and res- 
olutions to the office of the secretary of state, with his approval or reasons 
for disapproval. 

Sec 13. If any bill presented to the governor contain several items 
of appropriation of money, he may object to one or more items while 
approving other portions of the bill. In such case he shall append to the 
bili, at the time of signing it, a statement of the items to which he objects, 
and the appropriations so objected to shall not take effect. If the general 
assembly be in session, he shall transmit to the house in which the bill 
originated a copy of such statement, and the items objected to shall be 
separately reconsidered. If it be not in session, then he shall transmit the 
same within thirty days to the office of secretary of state, with his approval 
or reasons for disapproval. 

Sec 14. Every resolution to which the concurrence of the senate and 
house of representatives may be necessary, except on questions of adjourn- 
ment, of going into joint session, and of amending this constitution, shall 



140 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

be presented to the governor, and before the same shall take effect, shall 
"be proceeded upon in the same manner as in the case of a bill: Provided, 
That no resolution shall have the effect to repeal, extend, alter or amend 
any law. 

Sec. 15. The lieutenant governor shall possess the same qualifications 
as the governor, and by virtue of his office shall be president of the senate. 
In committee of the whole he may debate all questions; and when there 
is an equal division he shall give the casting vote in the senate, and also in 
joint vote of both houses. 

Sec. 16. In case of death, conviction, or impeachment, failure to qual- 
ify, resignation, absence from the state, or other disability of the governor, 
the oowers, duties, and emoluments of the office for the residue of the 
term, or until the disability shall be removed, shall devolve upon the lieu- 
tenant governor. 

Sec IT. The senate shall choose a president pro tempore to preside in 
cases of the absence or impeachment of the lieutenant-governor, or when 
he shall hold the office of governor. If there be no lieutenant-governor, 
or the lieutenant governor shall, for any of the causes specified in section 
sixteen, of this article, become incapable of performing the duties of the 
office, the president of the senate shall act as governor until the vacancy 
is filled, or the disability removed; and if the president of the senate, for 
any of the above namecl causes, shall become incapable of performing the 
duties of governor, the same shall devolve upon the speaker of the house 
of representatives, in the same manner, and with the same powers and 
compensation as are prescribed in the case of the office devolving upon 
the lieutenant-governor. 

Sec. 18. The lieutenant-governor, or the president -pro tempore of the 
senate, while presiding in the senate, shall receive the same compen- 
sation as shall be allowed to the speaker of the house of representatives. 

Sec 19. No person shall be eligible to the office of secretary of state, 
state auditor, state treasurer, attorney-general, or superintendent of public 
schools, unless he be a male citizen of the United States, and at least 
twenty-five years old, and shall have resided in this state at least five years 
next before his election. 

Sec 20. The secretary of state shall be the custodian of the seal of 
the state, and authenticate therewith all official acts of the governor, his 
approval of laws excepted. The said seal shall be called the " Great Seal 
of the State of Missouri," and the emblems and devices thereof, hereto- 
fore prescribed by law, shall not be subject to change. 

Sec 21. The secretary of state shall keep a register of the official acts 
of the governor, and when necessary, shall attest them, and lay copies of 
the same, together with copies of all papers relative thereto, before either 
house of the general assembly whenever required to do so. 

Sec 22. An account shall be kept by the officers of the executive 
department of all moneys and choses in action disbursed, or otherwise dis- 
posed of by them severally, from all sources, and for every service per- 
formed; and a semi-annual report thereof shall be made to the governor 
under oath. The governor may at any time require information, in writ- 
ing, under oath, from the officers of the executive department, and all 
officers and managers of state institutions, upon any subject relating to 
the condition, management and expenses of their respective offices and 
institutions; which information, when so required, shall be furnished by 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 141 

such officers and managers, and any officer or manager who at any time 
shall make a false report, shall be guilty of perjury and punished accord- 
ingly. 

Sec. 23. The governor shall commission all officers not otherwise pro- 
vided for by law. All commissions shall run in the name and by the 
authority of the state of Missouri, be signed by the governor, sealed with 
the great seal of the state of Missouri, and attested by the secretary of state. 

Sec. 24. The officers named in this article shall receive for their ser- 
vices a salary to be established by law, which shall not be increased or 
diminished during their official terms; and they shall not, after the expir- 
ation of the terms of those in office at the adoption of this constitution, 
receive to their own use any fees, costs, perquisites of office, or other com- 
pensation. All fees that may hereafter be payable by law for any service 
performed by any officer provided for in this article shall be paid in 
advance into the state treasury. 

Sec. 25. Contested elections of governor and lieutenant-governor 
shall be decided by a joint vote of both houses of the general assembly, 
in such manner as may be provided by law; and contested elections of 
secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, attorney-general, and su- 
perintendent of public schools shall be decided before such tribunal, and 
in such manner as may be provided by law. 

ARTICLE VI.— judicial department. 

Section 1. The judicial power of the state, as to matters of law and 
equity, except as in this constitution otherwise provided, shall be vested 
in a supreme court, the St, Louis court of appeals, circuit courts, crim- 
inal courts, probate courts, county courts, and municipal corporation courts. 

Sec. 2. The supreme court, except in cases otherwise directed by this 
constitution, shall have appellate jurisdiction only, which shall be co-ex- 
tensive with the state, under the restrictions and limitations in this consti- 
tution provided. 

Sec. 3. .The supreme court shall have a general superintending con- 
trol over all inferior courts. It shall have power to issue writs of habeas 
corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, and other original remedial 
writs, and to hear and determine the same. 

Sec. 4. The judges of the supreme court shall hold office for the term 
of ten years. The judge oldest in commission shall be chief justice of the 
court; and, if there be more than one commission of the same date, the 
court may select the chief justice from the judges holding the same. 

Sec. 5. The supreme court shall consist of five judges, any three of 
whom shall constitute a quorum ; and said judges shall be conservators of 
the peace throughout the state, and shall be elected by the qualified voters 
thereof. 

Sec. 6. The judges of the supreme court shall be citizens of the 
United States, not less than thirty years old, and shall have been citizens 
of this state for five years next preceding their election or appointment, 
and shall be learned in the law. 

Sec. 7. The full terms of the judges of the supreme court shall com- 
mence on the first day of January next ensuing their election, and those 
elected to fill any vacancy shall also enter upon the discharge of their 
duties on the first day of January next ensuing such election. Those ap- 
pointed shall enter upon the discharge of their duties as soon as qualified. 



142 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

Sec. 8. The present judges of the supreme court shall remain in 
office until the expiration of their respective terms of office. To fill their 
places as their terms expire, one judge shall be elected at the general 
election in eighteen hundred and seventy-six, and one every two years 
thereafter. 

Sec. 9. The supreme court shall be held at the seat of government at 
such times as may be prescribed by law; and until otherwise directed by 
law, the terms of said court shall commence on the third Tuesday in Octo- 
ber and April of each year. 

Sec. 10. The state shall provide a suitable court room at the seat of 
government, in which the supreme court shall hold its sessions ; also a 
clerk's office, furnished offices for the judges, and the use of the state 
library. 

Sec. 11. If, in any cause pending in the supreme court, or the St. 
Louis court of appeals, the judges sitting shall be equally divided in opin- 
ion, no judgment shall be entered therein based on such division ; but the 
parties to the cause may agree upon some person, learned in the law, to 
act as special judge in the cause, who shall therein sit with the court, and 
give decision in the same manner and with the same effect as one of the 
judges. If the parties cannot agree upon a special judge, the court shall 
appoint one. 

Sec. 12. There is hereby established in the city of St. Louis an appel- 
late court, to be known as the " St. Louis court of appeals," the jurisdic- 
tion of which shall be coextensive with the city of St. Louis and the coun- 
ties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren. Said court shall have 
power to issue writs of habeas corpus, quo warranto, mandamus, certiorari, 
and other original remedial writs, and to hear and determine the same; and 
shall have a superintending control over all inferior courts of record in said 
counties. Appeals shall lie from the decisions of the St. Louis court of ap- 
peals to the supreme court, and writs of error may issue from the supreme 
court to said court in the following cases only: In all cases where the 
amount in dispute, exclusive of costs, exceeds the sum of two thousand five 
hundred dollars; in cases involving the construction of the constitution of 
the United States or of this state; in cases where the validity of a treaty or 
statute of, or authority exercised under the United States is drawn in ques- 
tion ; in cases involving the construction of the revenue laws of this state, 
or the title to any office under this state; in cases involving title to real 
estate; in cases where a county or other political subdivision of the state, 
or any state officer is a party, and in all cases of felony. 

Sec. 13. The St. Louis court of appeals shall consist of three judges, 
to be elected by the qualified voters of the city of St. Louis, and the coun- 
ties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren, who shall hold their 
offices for the period of twelve years. They shall be residents of the dis- 
trict composed of said counties, shall possess the same qualifications as 
judges of the supreme court, and each shall receive the same compensation 
as is now, or may be, provided by law for the judges of the circuit court of 
St. Louis county, and be paid from the same sources: Provided, That 
each of said counties shall pay its proportional part of the same, according 
to its taxable property. 

Sec. 14. The judges of said court shall be conservators of the peace 
throughout said counties. Any two of said judges shall constitute a quo- 
rum. There shall be two terms of said court to be held each year, on the 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 143 

first Monday of March and October, and the first term of said court shall 
be held on the first Monday in January, 1876. 

Sec. 15. The opinions of said court shall be in writing, and shall be 
filed in the cases in which they shall be respectively made, and become 
parts of their record; and all laws relating to the practice in the supreme 
court shall apply to this court, so far as the same may be applicable. 

Sec. 16. At the first general election held in said city and counties 
after the adoption of this constitution, three judges of said court shall be 
elected, who shall determine by lot the duration of their several terms of 
office, which shall be respectively four, eight and twelve years, and certify 
the result to the secretary of state; and every four years thereafter one 
judge of said court shall be elected to hold office for the term of twelve 
years. The term of office of such judges shall begin on the first Monday 
in January next ensuing their election. The judge having the oldest 
license to" practice law in this state, shall be the presiding judge of said 
court. 

Sec. 17. Upon the adoption of this constitution the governor shall 
appoint three judges for said court, who shall hold their offices until the 
first Monday of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, and until 
their successors shall be duly qualified. 

Sec. 18. The clerk of the supreme court at St. Louis shall be the clerk 
of the St. Louis court of appeals until the expiration of the term for which 
he was appointed clerk of the supreme court, and until his successor shall 
be duly qualified. 

Sec. 19. All cases which may be pending in the supreme court at St. 
Louis at the time of the adoption of this constitution, which by its terms 
would come within the final appellate jurisdiction of the St. Louis court of 
appeals, shall be certified and transferred to the St. Louis court of appeals, 
to be heard and determined by said court. 

Sec. 20. All cases coming to said court by appeal, or writ of error, 
shall be triable at the expiration of fifteen days from the filing of the tran- 
script in the office of the clerk of said court. 

Sec. 21. Upon the adoption of this constitution, and after the close of 
the next regular terms of the supreme court at St. Louis and St. Joseph, as 
now established by law, the office of the clerk of the supreme court at St. 
Louis and St. Joseph shall be vacated, and said clerks shall transmit to the 
clerk of the supreme court at Jefferson City all the books, records, docu- 
ments, transcripts and papers belonging to their respective offices, except 
those required by section nineteen of this article, to be turned over to the 
St. Louis court of appeals; and said records, documents, transcripts and 
papers shall become part of the records, documents, transcripts and papers 
of said supreme court at Jefferson City, and said court shall hear and 
determine all the cases thus transferred as other cases. 

Sec. 22. The circuit court shall have jurisdiction over all criminal 
cases not otherwise provided for by law; exclusive original jurisdiction in 
all civil cases not otherwise provided for; and such concurrent jurisdiction 
with, and appellate jurisdiction from inferior tribunals and justices of the 
peace as is or may be provided by law. It shall hold its terms at such 
times and places in each county as may be by law directed; but at least 
two terms shall be held every year in each county. 

Sec. 23. The circuit court shall exercise a superintending control over 
■criminal courts, probate courts, county courts, municipal corporation 



144 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

courts, justices of the peace, and all inferior tribunals in each county in 
their respective circuits. 

Sec 24. The state, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, 
shall be divided into convenient circuits of contiguous counties, in each of 
which circuits one circuit judge shall be elected ; and such circuits may be 
changed, enlarged, diminished or abolished, from time to time, as public 
convenience mav require; and whenever a circuit shall be abolished, the 
office of the judge of such circuit shall cease. 

Sec. 25. The judges of the circuit courts shall be elected by the quali- 
fied voters of each circuit; shall hold their offices for the term of six years, 
and shall reside in and be conservators of the peace within their respective 
circuits. 

Sec 26. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the cir- 
cuit court who shall not have attained the age of thirty years, been a citi- 
zen of the United States five years, a qualified voter of this state for three 
years, and who shall not be a resident of the circuit in which he may be 
elected or appointed. 

Sec 27. The circuit court of St. Louis county shall be composed of 
five iudges, and such additional number as the general assembly may, 
from time to time, provide. Each of said judges shall sit separately for 
the trial of causes and the transaction of business in special term. The 
judges of said circuit court may sit in general term, for the purpose of 
making rules of court, and for the transaction of such other business as 
may be provided by law, at such time as they may determine; but shall have 
no "power to review any order, decision or proceeding of the court in 
special term. The St. Louis court of appeals shall have exclusive jurisdic- 
tion of all appeals from, and writs of error to circuit courts of St. Charles, 
Lincoln and Warren counties, and the circuit court of St. Louis county, in 
special term, and all courts of record having criminal jurisdiction in said 
counties. 

Sec 28. In any circuit composed of a single county, the general assem- 
bly may, from time time, provide for one or more additional judges, as the 
business shall require ; each of whom shall separately try cases and per- 
form all other duties imposed upon circuit judges. 

Sec 29. If there be a vacancy in the office of judge of any circuit, or 
if the judge be sick, absent, or from any cause unable to hold any term, or 
part of term of court, in any county in his circuit, such term, or part of 
term of court, may be held by a judge of any other circuit; and at the re- 
quest of the judge of any circuit, any term of court, or part of term in his 
circuit, may be held by the judge of any other circuit, and in all such cases, 
or in any case where the judge cannot preside, the general assembly shall 
make such additional provision for holding court as may be found necessary. 

Sec 30. The election of judges of all courts of record shall be held as 
is or may be provided by law, and in case of a tie or contested election be- 
tween the candidates, the same shall be determined as prescribed by law. 

Sec 31. The general assembly shall have no power to establish crim- 
inal courts, except in counties having a population exceeding fifty thousand. 

Sec 32. In case the office of judge of any court of record becomes va- 
cant by death, resignation, removal, failure to qualify, or otherwise, such 
vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided by law. 

Sec 33. The judges of the supreme, appellate and circuit courts, 
and of all other courts of record receiving a salary, shall, at stated times, 






CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 145 

receive such compensation for their services as is or may be prescribed by- 
law ; but it shall not be increased or diminished during the period for which 
they were elected. 

Sec. 34. The general assembly shall establish in every county a pro- 
bate court, which shall be a court of record, and consist of one judge, who 
shall be elected. Said court shall have jurisdiction over all matters per- 
taining to probate business, to granting letters testamentary and of admin- 
istration, the appointment of guardians and curators of minors and persons 
of unsound mind, settling the accounts of executors, administrators, cura- 
tors and guardians, and the sale or leasing of lands by administrators, 
curators and guardians; and, also, jurisdiction over all matters relating to 
apprentices: Provided, That until the general assembly shall provide by 
law for a uniform system of probate courts, the jurisdiction of probate 
courts heretofore established shall remain as now provided by law. 

Sec. 35. Probate courts shall be uniform in their organization, juris- 
diction, duties and practice, except that a separate clerk may be provided 
for, or the judge may be required to act, cx-qfficio, as his own clerk. 

Sec. 36. In each county there shall be a county court, which shall be 
a court of record, and shall have jurisdiction to transact all county and 
such other business as may be prescribed by law. The court shall consist 
of one or more judges, not exceeding three, of whom the probate judge 
may be one, as may be provided by law. 

Sec. 37. In each county there shall be appointed, or elected, as many 
justices of the peace as the public good may require, whose powers, duties 
and duration in office shall be regulated by law. 

Sec. 38. All writs and process shall run, and all prosecutions shall be 
conducted in the name of the "state of Missouri;" all writs shall be 
attested by the clerk of the court from which they shall be issued; and all 
indictments shall conclude " against the peace and dignity of the state." 

Sec 39. The St. Louis court of appeals and supreme court shall 
appoint their own clerks. The clerks of all other courts of record shall 
be elective, for such terms and in such manner as may be directed by law; 
-provided, that the term of office of no existing clerk of any court of record, 
not abolished by this constitution, shall be affected by such law. 

Sec. 40. In case there be a tie, or a contested election between can- 
didates for clerk of any court of record, the same shall be determined 
in such manner as may be directed by law. 

Sec. 41. In case of the inability of any judge of a court of record to 
discharge the duties of his office with efficiency, by reason of continued 
sickness, or physical or mental infirmity, it shall be in the power of the 
general assembly, two thirds of the members of each house concurring, 
with the approval of the governor, to remove such judge from office; but 
each house shall state on its respective journal the cause for which it shall 
wish his removal, and give him notice thereof, and he shall have the right 
to be heard in his defense, in such manner as the general assembly shall 
by law direct. 

Sec 42. All courts now existing in this state, not named or provided 
for in this constitution, shall continue until the expiration of the terms of 
office of the several judges; and as such terms expire, the business of said 
court shall vest in the court having jurisdiction thereof in the counties 
where said courts now exist, and all the records and papers shall be trans- 
ferred to the proper courts. 
10 



146 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

Sec. 43. The supreme court of the state shall designate what opin- 
ions delivered by the court, or the judge thereof, may be printed at the ex- 
pense of the state; and the general assembly shall make no provision for 
payment by the state for the publication of any case decided by said court, 
not so designated. 

Sec. 44. All judicial decisions in this state shall be free for publica- 
tion by any person. 

ARTICLE VII. — IMPEACHMENTS. 

Section 1. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, 
state auditor, state treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of pub- 
lic schools, and judges of the supreme, circuit and criminal courts, and 
of the St. Louis court of appeals, shall be liable to impeachment for high 
crimes or misdemeanors, and for misconduct, habits of drunkenness, or op- 
pression in office. 

Sec. 2. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of 
impeachment. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate, and, when 
sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be sworn to do justice according 
to law and evidence. When the governor of the state is on trial, the chief 
justice of the supreme court shall preside. No person shall be convicted 
without the concurrence of two-thirds of the senators present. But judg- 
ment in such cases shall not extend any further than removal from office, 
and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit under this 
state. The party, whether convicted or acquitted, shall, nevertheless, be 
liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. 

ARTICLE VIII .— SUFFRAC.E and elections. 

Section 1. The general election shall be held biennially on the Tues- 
day next following the first Monday in November. The first general elec- 
tion under this constitution shall be held on that day, in the year one thou- 
sand eight hundred and seventy-six; but the general assembly may, by 
law, fix a different day, two-thirds of all the members of each house con- 
senting thereto. 

Sec. 2. Every male citizen of the United States, and every male per- 
son of foreign birth, who may have declared his intention to become a citi- 
zen of the United States according to law, not less than one year nor more 
than five } r ears before he offers to vote, who is over the age of twenty-one 
years, possessing the following qualifications, shall be entitled to vote at 
all elections by the people: 

First, He shall have resided in the state one year immediately preceding 
the election at which he offers to vote. 

Second, He shall have resided in the county, city or town where he 
shall offer to vote, at least sixtv days immediately preceding the election. 

Sec. 3. All elections by the people shall be by ballot; every ballot voted 
shall be numbered in the order in which it shall be received, and the 
number recorded by the election officers on the list of voters, opposite the 
name of the voter who presents the ballot. The election officers shall be 
sworn or affirmed not to disclose how any voter shall have voted, unless 
required to do so as witnesses in a judicial proceeding: Provided, That in all 
cases of contested elections the ballots cast may be counted, compared with 
the list of voters, and examined under such safeguards and regulations as 
may be prescribed by law. 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 117 

Sec. 4. Voters shall, in all cases except treason, felony or breach of 
the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections, 
and in going to and returning therefrom. 

Sec. 5. The general assembly shall provide, by law, for the registra- 
tion of all voters in cities and counties having a population of more than 
one 'hundred thousand inhabitants, and may provide for such registration in 
cities having a population exceeding twenty-five thousand inhabitants and 
not exceeding one hundred thousand, but not otherwise. 

Sec. 6. All elections, by persons in a representative capacity, shall be 
■viva voce. 

Sec. 7. For fhe purpose of voting, no person shall be deemed to have 
gained a residence by reason of his presence, or lost it by reason of his ab- 
sence, while employed in the service, either civil or military, of this state, 
or of the United States, nor while engaged in the navigation of the waters 
of the state or of the United States, or of the high seas, nor while a student 
of any institution of learning, nor while kept in a poor house or other asy- 
lum at public expense, nor while confined in public prison. 

Sec. 8. No person, while kept at any poor house, or other asylum, at 
public expense, nor while confined in any public prison, shall be entitled to 
vote at any election under the laws of this state. 

Sec. 9. The trial and determination of contested elections of all public 
officers, whether state, judicial, municipal, or local, .except governor and 
lieutenant governor, shall be by the courts of law, or by one or more of the 
judges thereof. The general assembly shall, by general law, designate the 
court or judge by whom the several classes of election contests shall be 
tried, and regulate the manner of trial and all matters incident thereto; but 
no such law, assigning jurisdiction or regulating its exercise, shall apply to 
any contest arising out of any election held before said law shall take effect. 

Sec. 10. The general assembly may enact laws excluding from the 
right of voting all persons convicted of felony or other infamous crime, or 
misdemeanors connected with the exercise of the right of suffrage. 

Sec. 11. No officer, soldier or marine, in the regular army or navy of 
the United States, shall be entitled to vote at any election in this state. 

Sec. 12. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this 
state, civil or military, who is not a citizen of the United States, and who 
shall not have resided in this state one year next preceding his election or 
appointment. 

ARTICLE IX. — counties, cities and towns, 
m 

Section 1. The several counties of this state, as they now exist, are 
hereby recognized as legal subdivisions of the state. 

Sec. 2. The general assembly shall have no power to remove the 
county seat of any county, but the removal of county seats shall be pro- 
vided for by general law ; and no county seat shall be removed unless two- 
thirds of the qualified voters of the county, voting on the proposition at a 
general election, vote therefor; and no such proposition shall, be sub- 
mitted oftener than once in five years. All additions to a town, which 
is a county seat, shall be included, considered and regarded as part of the 
county seat. 

Sec. 3. The general assembly shall have no power to establish any 
new county with a territory of less than four hundred and ten square miles, 
nor to reduce anv county, now established, to a less area or less population 



148 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

than required for a ratio of representation existing at the time; but when 
a new county is formed, having a population less than a ratio of represent- 
ation, it shall be attached for representative purposes to the county from 
which the greatest amount of territory is taken until such ratio shall be 
obtained. No county shall be divided or have any portion stricken there- 
from, without submitting the question to a vote of the people of the county, 
nor unless a majority of all the qualified voters of the county or counties 
thus affected, voting on the question, shall vote therefor; nor shall any new 
county be established, any line of which shall run within ten miles of the 
then existing county seat of any county. In all cases of the establishment 
of any new county, the new county shall be held for and obliged to pay its 
ratable proportion of all the liabilities then existing of the county or coun- 
ties from which said new county shall be formed. 

Sec 4. No part of the territory of any county shall be stricken off and 
added to an adjoining county, without submitting the question to the qual- 
ified voters of the counties immediately interested, nor unless a majority of 
all the qualified voters of the counties thus affected, voting on the question, 
shall vote therefor. When any part of a county is stricken off and attached 
to another county, the part stricken off shall be holden for, and obliged to 
pay its proportion of all the liabilities then existing of the county from 
which it is taken. 

Sec 5. When any new county, formed from contiguous territory taken 
from older counties, or when any county to which territory shall be added 
taken from an adjoining county, shall fail to pay the proportion of indebt- 
edness of such territory, to the county or counties from which it is taken, 
then it may be lawful for any county from which such territory has been 
taken, to levy and collect, by taxation, the due proportion of indebtedness 
of such territory, in the same manner as if the territory had not been 
stricken off. 

Sec 6. No county, township, city or other municipality, shall here- 
after become a subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or other cor- 
poration or association, or make appropriation or donation, or loan its credit 
to, or in aid of any such corporation or association, or to or in aid of any 
college or institution of learning, or other institution, whether created for 
or to be controlled by the state or others. All authority heretofore con- 
ferred for any of the purposes aforesaid by the general assembly, or by 
the charter of any corporation, is hereby repealed: Provided, however \ 
That nothing in this constitution contained shall affect the right of any 
such municipality to make such subscription, where the same has been au- 
thorized under existing laws by a vote of the people of such municipality 
prior to its adoption, or to prevent the issue of renewal bonds or the use of 
such other means as are or may be prescribed by law, for the liquidation or 
payment of such subscription, or of any existing indebtedness. 

Sec 7. The general assembly shall provide, by general laws, for the 
organization and classification of cities and towns. The number of such 
classes shall not exceed four; and the power of each class shall be defined 
by general laws, so that all such municipal corporations of the same class 
shall possess the same powers and be subject to the same restrictions. The 
general assembly shall also make provisions, by general law, whereby any 
city, town or village, existing by virtue of any special or local law, may 
elect to become subject to, and be governed by, the general laws relating 
to such corporations. 






CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 149 

Sec. 8. The general assembly may provide, by general law, for town- 
ship organization, under which any county may organize whenever a ma- 
jority of the legal voters of such county, voting at any general election, 
shall so determine ; and whenever any county shall adopt township organ- 
ization, so much of this constitution as provides for the management of 
county affairs, and the assessment and collection of the revenue by county 
officers, in conflict with such general law for township organization, may 
be dispensed with, and the business of said county, and the local concerns 
of the several townships therein, may be transacted in such manner as may 
be prescribed by law : Provided, That the justices of the county court in 
such case shall not exceed three in number. 

Sec 9. In any county which shall have adopted " Township Organiz- 
ation," the question of continuing the same may be submitted to a vote of 
the electors of such county at a general election, in the manner that shall 
be provided by law; and if a majority of all the votes cast upon that 
question shall be against township organization, it shall cease in said 
county; and all laws in force in relation to counties not having township 
organization shall immediately take effect and be in force in such county. 

Sec. 10. There shall be elected by the qualified voters in each county, 
at the time and places of electing representatives, a sheriff and coroner. 
They shall serve for two years, and until their successors be duly elected 
and qualified, unless sooner removed for malfeasance in office, and shall be 
eligible only four years in any period of six. Before entering on the duties 
of their office, they shall give security in the amount and in such manner 
as shall be prescribed by law. Whenever a county shall be hereafter 
established, the governor shall appoint a sheriff and a coroner therein, who 
shall continue in office until the next succeeding general election, and until 
their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. 

Sec. 11. Whenever a vacancy shall happen in the office of sheriff or 
coroner, the same shall be filled by the county court. If such vacancy hap- 
pen in the office of sheriff more than nine months prior to the time of 
holding a general election, such county court shall immediately order a 
special election to fill the same, and the person by it appointed shall hold 
office until the person chosen at such election shall be duly qualified; 
otherwise, the person appointed by such county court shall hold office 
until the person chosen at such general election shall be duly qualified. 
If any vacancy happen in the office of coroner, the same shall be filled for 
the remainder of the term by such county court. No person elected or 
appointed to fill a vacancy in either of said offices shall thereby be ren- 
dered ineligible for the next succeeding term. 

Sec. 12. The general assembly shall, by a law uniform in its opera- 
tion, provide for and regulate the fees of all county officers, and for this 
purpose may classify the counties by population. 

Sec. 13. The fees of no executive or ministerial officer of any county 
or municipality, exclusive of the salaries actually paid to his necessary 
deputies, shall exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars for any one year. 
Every such officer shall make return, quarterly, to the county court of all 
fees by him received, and of the salaries by him actually paid to his depu- 
ties or assistants, stating the same in detail, and verifying the same by his 
affidavit; and for any statement or omission in such return, contrary to 
truth, such officer shall be liable to the penalties of willful and corrupt 
perjury. 



150 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

Sec. 14. Except as otherwise directed by this constitution, the general 
assembly shall provide for the election or appointment of such other 
county, township and municipal officers, as public convenience may 
require ; and their terms of office and duties shall be prescribed by law ; 
but no term of office shall exceed four years. 

Sec 15. , In all counties having a city therein containing over one hun- 
dred thousand inhabitants, the city and county government thereof may 
be consolidated in such manner as may be provided by law. 

Sec 16. Any city having a population of more than one hundred 
thousand inhabitants, may frame a charter for its own government, con- 
sistent with and subject to the constitution and laws of this state, by 
causing a board of thirteen freeholders, who shall have been for at least 
five years qualified voters thereof, to be elected by the qualified voters of 
such city at any general or special election; which board shall, within 
ninety days after such election, return to the chief magistrate of such city 
a draft of such charter, signed by the members of such board or a majority 
of them. Within thirty days thereafter, such proposed charter shall be 
submitted to the qualified voters of such city, at a general or special elec- 
tion, and if four-sevenths of such qualified voters voting thereat, shall rat- 
ify the same, it shall, at the end of thirty days thereafter, become the char- 
ter of such city, and supersede any existing charter and amendments 
thereof. A duplicate certificate shall be made, setting forth the charter 
proposed and its ratification, which shall be signed by the chief magistrate 
of such city, and authenticated by its corporate seal. One of such certifi- 
cates shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state, and the other, 
after being recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds for the county 
in which such city lies, shall be deposited among the archives of such city, 
and all courts shall take judicial notice thereof. Such charter, so adopted, 
may be amended by a proposal therefor, made by the law-making author- 
ities of such city, published for at least thirty days in three newspapers of 
largest circulation in such city, one of which shall be a newspaper printed 
in the German language, and accepted by three-fifths of the qualified 
voters of such city, voting at a general or special election, and not other- 
wise; but such charter shall always be in harmony with and subject to the 
constitution and laws of the state. 

Sec 17. It shall be a feature of all such charters that they shall pro- 
vide, among other things, for a mayor or chief magistrate, and two houses 
of legislation, one of which at least shall be elected by general ticket; and 
in submitting any such charter or amendment thereto to the qualified 
voters of such city, any alternative section or article may be presented for 
the choice of the voters, and may be voted on separately, and accepted or 
rejected separately, without prejudice to other articles or sections of the 
charter or any amendment thereto. 

Sec 18. In cities or counties having more than two hundred thousand 
inhabitants, no person shall, at the same time, be a state officer and an 
officer of any county, city or other municipality; and no person shall, at 
the same time, fill two municipal offices, either in the same or different 
municipalities; but this section shall not apply to notaries public, justices 
of the peace or officers of the militia. 

Sec 19. The corporate authorities of any county, city, or other munic- 
ipal subdivision of this state, having more than two hundred thousand in- 
habitants, which has already exceeded the limit of indebtedness prescribed 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 151 

in section twelve of article X of this constitution, may, in anticipation of 
the customary annual revenue thereof, appropriate, during any fiscal year, 
toward the general governmental expenses thereof, a sum not exceeding 
seven-eighths of the entire revenue applicable to general governmental 
purposes (exclusive of the payment of the bonded debt of such county, city 
or municipality) that was actually raised by taxation alone during the pre- 
ceding fiscal year; but until such excess of indebtedness cease, no further 
bonded debt shall be incurred, except for the renewal of other bonds. 

ST. LOUIS. 

Sec. 20. The city of St. Louis may extend its limits so as to embrace 
the parks now without its boundaries, and other convenient and contiguous 
territory, and frame a charter for the government of the city thus enlarged, 
upon the following conditions, that is to say: The council of the city and 
county court of the county of St. Louis, shall, at the request of the mayor 
of the city of St. Louis, meet in joint session and order an election, to be held 
as provided for general elections, by the qualified voters of the city and 
county, of a board of thirteen freeholders of such city or county, whose 
duty shall be to propose a scheme for the enlargement and definition of the 
boundaries of the city, the reorganization of the government of the county, 
the adjustment of the relations between the city thus enlarged and the 
residue of St. Louis county and the government of the city thus enlarged, 
by a charter in harmony with and subject to the constitution and laws of 
Missouri, which shall, among other things, provide for a chief executive 
and two houses of legislation, one of which shall be elected by general 
ticket, which scheme and charter shall be signed in duplicate by said board 
or a majority of them, and one of them returned to the mayor of the city 
and the other to the presiding justice of the county court within ninety 
days after the election of such board. Within thirty days thereafter the 
city council and county court shall submit such scheme to the qualified 
voters of the whole county, and such charter to the qualified voters of the 
city so enlarged, at an election to be held not less than twenty nor more 
than thirty days after the order therefor; and if a majority of such qualified 
voters, voting at such election, shall ratify such scheme and charter, then 
such scheme shall become the organic law of the county and city, and such 
charter the organic law of the city, and at the end of sixty days thereafter 
shall take the place of and supersede the charter of St. Louis, and all 
amendments thereof, and all special laws relating to St. Louis county in- 
consistent with such scheme. 

Sec 21. A copy of such scheme and charter, with a certificate thereto 
appended, signed by the mayor and authenticated by the seal of the city, 
and also signed by the presiding justice of the county court and authenti- 
cated by the seal of the county, setting forth the submission of such scheme 
and charter to the qualified voters of such county and city and its ratifica- 
tion, by them, shall be made in duplicate, one of which shall be deposited 
in the office of the secretary of state, and the other, after being recorded in 
the office of the recorder of deeds of St. Louis county, shall be deposited 
among the archives of the city, and thereafter all courts shall take judicial 
notice thereof. 

Sec 22. The charter so ratified may be amended at intervals of not 
less than two years, by proposals" therefor, submitted by the law-making 
authorities of the city to the qualified voters thereof at a general or special 



152 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

election, held at least sixty days after the publication of such proposals, 
and accepted by at least three-fifths of the qualified voters voting thereat. 

Sec. 23. Such charter and amendments shall always be in harmony 
with, and subject to the constitution and laws of Missouri, except only, 
that provision ma}" be made for the graduation of the rate of taxation for 
city purposes in the portions of the city which are added, thereto by the 
proposed enlargement of its boundaries. In the adjustment of the rela- 
tions between city and county, the city shall take upon itse.l *he entire 
park tax; and in consideration of the city becoming the propria cor of all 
the county buildings and property within its enlarged limits, it shall as- 
sume the whole of the existing county debt, and thereafter the city and 
county of St. Louis shall be independent of each other. The city shall be 
exempted from all county taxation. The judges of the county court shall 
be elected by the qualified voters outside of the city. The city, as en- 
larged, shall be entitled to the same representation in the general assem- 
bly, collect the state revenue, and perform all other functions in relation to 
the state in the same manner as if it were a county, as in this constitution 
defined; and the residue of the county shall remain a legal county of the 
state of Missouri, under the name of the county of St. Louis. IJntil the 
next apportionment for senators and representatives in the general assem- 
bly, the city shall have six senators and fifteen representatives, and the 
county one senator and two representatives, the same being the number of 
senators and representatives to which the county of St. Louis, as now or- 
ganized, is entitled under sections eight and eleven, of article IV, of this 
constitution. 

Sec. 24. The county and city of St. Louis, as now existing, shall con- 
tinue to constitute the eighth judicial circuit, and the jurisdiction of all 
courts of record, except the county court, shall continue until otherwise 
provided by law. 

Sec 25. Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the general 
assembly shall have the same power over the city and county of St. Louis 
that it has over other cities and counties of this state. 

ARTICLE X. — REVENUE AND TAXATION. 

Section 1. The taxing power may be exercised by the general as- 
sembly for state purposes, and by counties and other municipal corpora- 
tions, under authority granted to them by the general assembly, for 
county and other corporate purposes. 

Sec 2. The power to tax corporations and corporate property shall 
not be surrendered or suspended by act of the general assembly. 

Sec. 3. Taxes may be levied and collected for public purposes only. 
They shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects within the territorial 
limits of the authority levying the tax; and all taxes shall be levied and 
collected by general laws. 

Sec. ±. All property subject to taxation shall be taxed in proportion 
to its value. 

Sec. 5. All railroad corporations in this state, or doing business 
therein, shall be subject to taxation for state, county, school, municipal and 
other purposes, on the real and personal property owned or used by them, 
and on their gross earnings, their net earnings, their franchises and their 
capital stock. 

Sec. 6. The property, real and personal, of the state, counties and 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 153 

other municipal corporations, and cemeteries, shall be exempt from taxa- 
tion. Lots in incorporated cities or towns, or within one mile of the limits 
of any such city or town, to the extent of one acre, and lots one mile or 
more distant from such cities or towns, to the extent of five acres, with the 
buildings thereon, may be exempted from taxation, when the same are 
used exclusively for religious worship, for schools, or for purposes purely 
charitable; also, such property, real or personal, as may be used exclusively 
for agricultural or horticultural societies: Provided, That such exemptions 
shall be only by general law. 

Sec 7. All laws exempting property from taxation, other than the 
property above enumerated, shall be void. 

Sec. 8. The state tax on property, exclusive of the tax necessary to 
pay the bonded debt ot the state, shall not exceed twenty cents on the 
hundred dollars valuation ; and whenever the taxable property of the state 
shall amount to nine hundred million dollars, the rate shall not exceed fif- 
teen cents. 

Sec 9. No county, city, town, or other municipal corporation, nor the 
inhabitants thereof, nor the property therein, shall be released or discharged 
from their or its proportionate share of taxes to be levied for state pur- 
poses, nor shall commutation for such taxes be authorized in any form 
whatsoever. 

Sec 10. The general assembly shall not impose taxes upon counties, 
cities, towns or other municipal corporations; or upon the inhabitants or 
property thereof, for county, city, town or other municipal purposes; but 
may, by general laws, vest in the corporate authorities thereof, the power 
to assess and collect taxes for such purposes. 

Sec 11. Taxes for county, city, town and school purposes, may be 
levied on all subjects and objects of taxation ; but the valuation of property 
therefor shall not exceed the valuation of the same property in such town, 
city or school district for state and county purposes. For county purposes 
the annual rate on property, in counties having six million dollars or less, 
shall not, in the aggregate, exceed fifty cents on the hundred dollars valua- 
tion; in counties having six million dollars and under ten million dollars, 
said rate shall not exceed forty cents on the hundred dollars valuation ; in 
counties having ten million dollars and under thirty million dollars, said 
rate shall not exceed fifty cents on the hundred dollars valuation; and in 
counties having thirty million dollars or more, said rate shall not exceed 
thirty-five cents on the hundred dollars valuation. For city and town pur- 
poses the annual rate on property in cities and towns having thirty thou- 
sand inhabitants or more, shall not, in the aggregate, exceed one hundred 
cents on the hundred dollars valuation; in cities and towns having less 
than thirty thousand and over ten thousand inhabitants, said .rate shall 
not exceed sixty cents on the hundred dollars valuation; in cities and 
towns having less than ten thousand and more than one thousand inhabi- 
tants, said rate shall not exceed fifty cents on the hundred dollars valuation; 
and in towns having one thousand inhabitants or less, said rate shall not 
exceed twenty-five cents on the hundred valuation. For school purposes in 
districts, the annual rate on property shall not exceed forty cents on the 
hundred dollars valuation: Provided, The aforesaid annual rates for school 
purposes may be increased, in districts formed of cities and towns, to an 
amount not to exceed one dollar on the hundred dollars valuation ; and in 
other districts to an amount not to exceed sixty-five cents on the hundred 



154 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

dollars valuation, on the condition that a majority of the voters who are 
tax-payers, voting at an election held to decide the question, vote for said 
increase. For the purpose of erecting public buildings in counties, cities 
or school districts, the rates of taxation herein limited may be increased 
when the rate of such increase and the purpose for which it is intended 
shall have been submitted to a vote of the people, and two-thirds of the 
qualified voters of such county, city, or school district, voting at such elec- 
tion shall vote therefor. The rate herein allowed to each county shall be 
ascertained by the amount of taxable property therein, according to the 
last assessment for state and county purposes, and the rate allowed to each 
city or town by the number of inhabitants, according to the last census 
taken under the authority of the state, or of the United States; said re- 
strictions, as to rates, shall apply to taxes of every kind and description, 
whether general or special, except taxes to pay valid indebtedness now ex- 
isting or bonds which may be issued in renewal of such indebtedness. 

Sec. 12. No county, city, town, township, school district or other polit- 
ical corporation or subdivision of the state, shall be allowed to become 
indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an amount exceeding in any 
year the income and revenue provided for such year, without the assent of 
two-thirds the voters thereof, voting at an election to be held for that 
purpose; nor in cases requiring such assent shall any indebtedness be 
allowed to be incurred to an amount including existing indebtedness, in 
the aggregate, exceeding five per centum on the value of the taxable prop- 
erty therein, to be ascertained by the assessment next before the last as- 
sessment for state and county, purposes, previous to the incurring of such 
indebtedness: Provided, That with such assent any county may be allowed 
to become indebted to a larger amount for the erection of a court house or 
jail: And -provided further, That any county, city, town, township, school 
district or other political corporation, or subdivision of the state, incurring 
any indebtedness, requiring the assent of the voters as aforesaid, shall, be- 
fore or at the time of doing so, provide for the collection of an annual tax, 
sufficient to pay the interest on such indebtedness as it falls due, and also 
to constitute a sinking fund for payment of the principal thereof, within 
twenty years from the time of contracting the same. 

Sec 13. Private property shall not be taken or sold for the payment 
of the corporate debt of a municipal corporation. 

Sec. 14. The tax authorized by the sixth section of the ordinance 
adopted June sixth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, is hereby 
abolished, and hereafter there shall be levied and collected an annual tax 
sufficient to pay the accruing interest upon the bonded debt of the state, 
and to reduce the principal thereof each year by a sum not less than two 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars; the proceeds of which tax shall be paid 
into the state treasury, and appropriated and paid out for the purposes 
expressed in the first and second subdivisions of section forty-three of arti- 
cle IV of this constitution. The funds and resources now in the state in- 
terest and state sinking funds shall be appropriated to the same purposes; 
and whenever said bonded debt is extinguished, or a sum sufficient there- 
for has been raised, the tax provided for in this section shall cease to be 
assessed. 

Sec 15. All moneys now, or at any time hereafter, in the state treas- 
ury, belonging to the state, shall, immediately on receipt thereof, be 
deposited by the treasurer to the credit of the state for the benefit of the 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 155 

funds to which they respectively belong, in such bank or banks as he may, 
from time to time, with the approval of the governor and attorney gen- 
eral, select; the said bank or banks giving security, satisfactory to the gov- 
ernor and attorney general, for the safe keeping and payment of such 
deposit, when demanded by the state treasurer on his checks; such bank 
to pay a bonus for the use of such deposits not less than the bonus paid by 
other banks for similar deposits; and the same, together with such interest 
and profits as may accrue thereon, shall be disbursed by said treasurer for 
the purposes of the state, according to Jaw, upon warrants drawn by the 
state auditor, and not otherwise. 

Sec. 16. The treasurer shall keep a separate account of the funds, and 
the number and amount of warrants received,' and from whom; and shall 
publish, in such manner as the governor may designate, quarterly state- 
ments, showing the amount of state moneys, and where the same are kept 
or deposited. 

Sec. 17. The making of profit out of state, county, city, town or school 
district money, or using the same for an} 7 purpose not authorized by law, 
by any public officer, shall be deemed a felony, and shall be punished as 
provided by law. 

Sec. IS. There shall be a state board of equalization, consisting of the 
governor, state auditor, state treasurer, secretary of state and attorney 
general. The duty of said board shall be to adjust and equalize the valu- 
ation of real and personal property among the several counties in the state,. 
and it shall perform such other duties as are or may be prescribed bylaw. 

Sec. 19. No moneys shall ever be paid out of the treasury of this 
state, or any of the funds under its management, except in pursuance of 
an appropriation by law ; nor unless such payment be made, or a warrant 
shall have issued therefor, within two years after the passage of such ap- 
propriation act; and every such law, making a new appropriation, or con- 
tinuing or reviving an appropriation, shall distinctly specify the sum appro- 
priated, and the object to which it is to be applied ; and it shall not be suffi- 
cient to refer to any other law to fix such sum or object. A regular state- 
ment and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money 
shall be published from time to time. 

Sec. 20. The moneys arising from any loan, debt or liability, con- 
tracted by the state, or any county, city, town, or other municipal corpora- 
tion, shall be applied to the purposes for which they w 7 ere obtained, or to 
the repayment of such- debt or liability, and not otherwise. 

Sec. 21. No corporation, company or association, other than those 
formed for benevolent, religious, scientific, or educational purposes, shall be 
created or organized under the laws of this state, unless the persons named 
as corporators shall, at or before the filing of the articles of association or 
incorporation, pay into the state treasury fifty dollars for the first fifty 
thousand dollars or less of capital stock, and a further sum of five dollars 
for every additional ten thousand dollars of its capital stock. And no such 
corporation, company or association shall increase its capital stock without 
first paying into the treasury five dollars for every ten thousand dollars of 
increase: Provided, That nothing contained in this section shall be con- 
strued to prohibit the general assembly from levying a further tax on the 
franchises of such corporation. 



156 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

ARTICLE XL— education 

Section 1. A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being 
essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people, the 
general assembly shall establish and maintain free public schools for the 
gratuitous instruction of all persons in this state between the ages of six 
and twenty years. 

Sec. 2. The income of all the funds provided by the state for the sup- 
port of free public schools, shall be paid annually to the several county 
treasurers, to be disbursed according to law; but no school district, in 
which a free public school has not been maintained at least three months 
during the year for which the distribution is made, shall be entitled to 
receive anv portion of such funds. 

Sec. 3. Separate free public schools shall be established for the educa- 
tion of children of African descent. 

Sec. 4. The supervision of instruction in the public schools shall be 
vested in a " board of education," whose powers and duties shall be pre- 
scribed by law. The superintendent of public schools shall be president 
of the board. The governor, secretary of state and attorney-general shall 
be ex-officio members, and with the superintendent, compose said board 
of education. 

Sec. 5. The general assembly shall, whenever the public school fund 
will permit, and the actual necessity of the same may require, aid and 
maintain the state university, now established, with its present depart- 
ments. The government of the state university shall be vested in a board 
of curators, to consist of nine members, to be appointed by the governor, 
by and with the advice and consent of the senate. 

Sec. 6. The proceeds of all lands that have been, or hereafter may be 
granted by the United States to this state, and not otherwise appropriated 
by this state or the United States; also, all moneys, stocks, bonds, lands 
and other property now belonging to any state fund for purposes of educa- 
tion; also, the net proceeds of all sales of lands, and other property and 
effects that may accrue to the state by escheat, from unclaimed dividends 
and distributive shares of the estates of deceased persons; also, any pro- 
ceeds of the sales of the public lands which may have been or hereafter 
may be paid over to this state, (if congress will consent to such appropria- 
tion); also, all other grants, gifts or devises that have been, or hereafter 
may be, made to this state, and not otherwise appropriated by the state or 
the terms of the grant, gift or devise, shall be paid into the state treasury, 
and securely invested and sacredly preserved as a public school fund; the 
annual income of which fund, together with so much of the ordinary reve- 
nue of the state as may be by law set apart for that purpose, shall be faith- 
fully appropriated for establishing and maintaining the free public schools 
and the state university in this article provided for, and for no other uses 
or purposes whatsoever. 

Sec. 7. In case the public school fund now provided and set apart by 
law, for the support of free public schools, shall be insufficient to sustain a 
free school at least four months in every year in each school district in this 
state, the general assembly may provide for such deficiency in accordance 
with section eleven of the article on revenue and taxation ; but in no case 
shall there be set apart less than twenty-five per cent, of the state revenue 
exclusive of the interest and sinking fund, to be applied annually to the 
support of the public schools. 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 157 

Sec. 8. All moneys, stocks, bonds, lands and other property belonging 
to a county school fund; also, the net proceeds from the sale of estrays; 
also, the clear proceeds of all penalties and forfeitures, and of all fines 
collected in the several counties for any breach of the penal or mili- 
tary laws of the state, and all moneys which shall be paid by persons as 
an equivalent for exemption from military duty, shall belong to and be 
securely invested, and sacredly preserved in the several counties, as a 
county public school fund; the income of which fund shall be faithfully 
appropriated for establishing and maintaining free public schools in the 
several counties of this state. 

Sec. 9. No part of the public school fund of the state shall ever be 
invested in the stock or bonds, or other obligations of any other state, or 
of any county, city, town or corporation ; and the proceeds of the sales of 
any lands or other property which now belong, or may hereafter belong, 
to said school fund, shall be invested in the bonds of the state of Missouri, 
or of the United States. 

Sec. 10. All county school funds shall be loaned only upon unincum- 
bered real estate security, of double the valve of the loan, with personal 
security in addition thereto. 

Sec. 11. Neither the general assembly, nor any -county, city, town, 
township, school district or other municipal corporation, shall ever make 
an appropriation, or pay from any public fund whatever anything in aid of 
any religious creed, church or sectarian purpose; or to help to support or 
sustain any private or public school, academy, seminary, college, univers- 
ity or other institution of learning, controlled by any religious creed, 
church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or 
donation of personal property or real estate ever be made by the state, or 
any county, city, town or other municipal corporation, for any religious 
creed, church or sectarian purpose whatever. 

ARTICLE XII— CORPORATIONS. 

Section 1. All existing charters, or grants of special or exclusive priv- 
ileges, under which a bona fide organization shall not have taken place, 
and business been commenced in good faith, at the adoption of this con- 
stitution, shall thereafter have no validity. 

Sec. 2. No corporation, after the adoption of this constitution, shall be 
created by special laws; nor shall any existing charter be extended, 
changed or amended by special laws, except those for charitable, penal or 
reformatory purposes, "which are under the patronage and control of the 
state. 

Sec. 3. The general assembly shall not remit the forfeiture of the 
charter of any corporation now existing, or alter or amend such forfeited 
charter, or pass any other general or special laws for the benefit of such 
corporations. 

Sec. 4. The exercise of the power and right of eminent domain, shall 
never be so construed or abridged as to prevent the taking, by the general 
assembly, of the property and franchises of incorporated companies already 
organized, or that may be hereafter organized, and subjecting them to the 
public use, the same as that of individuals. The right of trial by jury 
shall be held inviolate in all trials of claims for compensation, when in the 
exercise of said right of eminent domain, any incorporated company shall 
be interested either for or against the exercise of said right. 



158 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

Sec. 5. The exercise of the police power of the state shall never be 
abridged, or so construed as to permit corporations to conduct their busi- 
ness in such manner as to infringe the equal rights of individuals, or the 
general well-being of the state. 

Sec. 6. In all elections for directors or managers of any incorporated 
companv, each shareholder shall have the right to cast as many votes in 
the aggregate as shall equal the number of shares so held by him or her 
in said company, multiplied by the number of directors or managers to be 
elected at such election; and each shareholder may cast the whole number 
of votes, either in person or by proxy for one candidate, or distribute such 
votes among two or more candidates ; and such directors or managers shall 
not be elected in any other manner. 

Sec. 7. No corporation shall engage in business, other than that ex- 
pressly authorized in its charter or the law under which it may have been 
or hereafter may be organized, nor shall it hold any real estate for any 
period longer than six years, except such as may be necessary and proper 
for carrying on its legitimate business. 

Sec. 8. No corporation shall issue stock or bonds, except for money 
paid, labor done or property actually received, and all fictitious increase of 
stock or indebtedness shall be void. The stock and bonded indebtedness 
of corporations shall not be increased, except in pursuance of general law, 
nor without the consent of the persons holding the larger amount in value 
of the stock first obtained at a meeting called for the purpose, first giving 
sixty days public notice, as may be provided by law. 

Sec. 9. Dues from private corporations shall be secured by such means 
as may be prescribed by law, but in no case shall any stockholder be indi- 
vidually liable in any amount over or above the amount of stock owned 
by him or her. 

Sec. 10. No corporation shall issue preferred stock without the con- 
sent of all the stockholders. 

Sec. 11. The term "corporation," as used in this article, shall be con- 
strued to include all joint stock companies or associations having any pow- 
ers or privileges not possessed by individuals or partnerships. 

RAILROADS. 

Sec. 12. It shall not be lawful in this state for any railway company 
to charge for freight or passengers a greater amount, for the transportation 
of the same, for a less distance than the amount charged for any greater 
distance, and suitable laws shall be passed by the general assembly to en- 
force this provision; but excursion and commutation tickets maybe issued 
at special rates. 

Sec. 13. Any railroad corporation or association, organized for the 
purpose, shall have the right to construct and operate a railroad between 
any points within this state, and to connect at the state line with railroads 
of other states. Every railroad company shall have the right, with its 
road, to intersect, connect with, or cross any other railroad, and shall receive 
and transport each the other's passengers, tonnage and cars, loaded or 
empty, without delay or discrimination. 

Sec. 14. Railways heretofore constructed, or that may hereafter be 
constructed in this state are hereby declared public highways, and railroad 
companies common carriers. The general assembly shall pass laws tc 
correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 159 

of freight and passenger tariffs on the different railroads in this state; and 
shall, from time to time, pass laws establishing reasonable maximum rates 
of charges for the transportation of passengers and freight on said railroads, 
and enforce all such laws by adequate penalties. 

Sec. 15. Every railroad or other corporation, organized or doing busi- 
ness in this state under the laws or authority thereof, shall have and main- 
tain a public office or place in this state for the transaction of its business, 
where transfers of stock shall be made, and where shall be kept, for public 
inspection, books in which shall be recorded the amount of capital stock 
subscribed, the names of the owners of the stock, the amounts owned by 
them respectively, the amount of stock paid, and by whom, the transfer of 
said stock, with the date of transfer, the amount of its assets and liabilities, 
and the names and places of residence of its officers. The directors of 
every railroad company shall hold one meeting annually in this state, pub- 
lic notice of which shall be given thirty days previously, and shall report 
annually, under oath, to the state auditor, or some officer designated by 
law, all of their acts and doings, which report shall include such matters 
relating to railroads as may be prescribed by law. The general assembly 
shall pass laws enforcing, by suitable penalties, the provisions of this sec- 
tion. 

Sec. 16. The rolling stock and all other movable property belonging 
to any railroad company or corporation in this state, shall be considered 
personal property, and shall be liable to execution and sale in the same 
manner as the personal property of individuals; and the general assembly 
shall pass no law exempting any such property from execution and sale. 

Sec. 17. No railroad or other corporation, or the lessees, purchasers or 
managers of any railroad corporation, shall consolidate the stock, property 
or franchises ot such corporation, with, or lease or purchase the works or 
franchises of, or in any way control any railroad corporation owning or hav- 
ing under its control a parallel or competing line; nor shall anv officer of 
such railroad corporation act as an officer of any other railroad corporation 
owning or having the control of a parallel or competing line. The ques- 
tion whether railroads are parallel or competing lines shall, when demanded, 
be decided by a jury, as in other civil issues. 

Sec. 18. If any railroad company organized under the laws of this 
state shall consolidate, by sale or otherwise, with any railroad company 
organized under the laws of any other state, or of the United States, the 
same shall not thereby become a foreign corporation ; but the courts of this 
state shall retain jurisdiction in all matters which may arise, as if said con- 
solidation had not taken place. In no case shall any consolidation take 
place, except upon public notice of at least sixty days to all stockholders, 
in such manner as mav be provided by law. 

Sec. 19. The general assembly shall pass no law for the benefit of a 
railroad or other corporations, or any individual or association of individ- 
uals, retrospective in its operation, or which imposes on the people of any 
county or municipal subdivision of the state, a new liability in respecc to 
transactions or considerations already past. 

Sec. 20. No law shall be passed by the general assembly granting the 
right to construct and operate a street railroad within any city, town, vil- 
lage, or on any public highway, without first acquiring the consent of the 
local authorities having control of the street or highway proposed to be 



160 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

occupied by such street railroad; and the franchises so granted shall not 
be transferred without similar assent first obtained. 

Sec. 21. No railroad corporation in existence at the time of the adop- 
tion of this constitution shall have the benefit of any future legislation, 
except on condition of complete acceptance of all the provisions of this 
constitution applicable to railroads. 

Sec. 22. No president, director, officer, agent, or employe of any rail- 
road company shall be interested, directly, or indirectly, in furnishing ma- 
terial or supplies to such company, or in the business of transportation as 
a common carrier of freight or passengers over the works owned, leased, 
controlled or worked by such company. 

Sec. 23. No discrimination in charges or facilities in transportation" 
shall be made between transportation companies and individuals, or in 
favor of either, by abatement, drawback or otherwise ; and no railroad com- 
pany, or any lessee, manager or employee thereof, shall make any prefer- 
ence in furnishing cars or motive power. 

Sec. 24. No railroad or other transportation company shall grant free 
passes or tickets, or passes or tickets at a discount, to members of the gen- 
eral assembly, or members cf the board of equalization, or any state, or 
county, or municipal officers ; and the acceptance of such pass or ticket, by 
a member of the general assembly, or any such officer, shall be a forfeiture 
of his office. 

BANKS. 

Sec. 25. No state bank shall hereafter be created, nor shall the state 
own or be liable for any stock in any corporation, or joint stock company, 
or association for banking purposes, now created or hereafter to be cre- 
ated. 

Sec. 26. No act of the general assembly authorizing or creating cor- 
porations or associations with banking powers (except banks of deposit 
or discount,) nor amendments thereto, shall go into effect, or in any man- 
ner be enforced, unless the same shall be submitted to a vote of the quali- 
fied voters of the state, at the general election next succeeding the pass- 
age of the same, and be approved by a majority of the votes cast at such 
election. 

Sec. 27. It shall be a crime, the nature and punishment of which shall 
be prescribed by law, for any president, director, manager, cashier or other 
officer of any banking institution, to assent to the reception of deposits, or 
the creation of debts by such banking institution, after he shall have had 
knowledge of the fact that it is insolvent, or in failing circumstances ; and 
any such officer, agent or manager, shall be individually responsible for 
such deposits so received, and all such debts so created with his assent. 

ARTICLE XIII.— militia. 

Section 1. All able-bodied male inhabitants of this state between the 
ages of eighteen and forty-five years, who are citizens of the United States, 
or have declared their intention of become such citizens, shall be liable to 
military duty in the militia of this state: Provided, That no person who is 
religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, can be compelled to do so, but may 
be compelled to pay an equivalent for military service, in such manner as 
shall be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 2. The general assembly, in providing for the organization, 






CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 161 

equipment and discipline of the militia, shall conform, as nearly as practi- 
cable, to the regulations for the government of the armies of the United 
States. 

Sec. 3. Each company and regiment shall elect its own company and 
regimental officers; but if any company or regiment shall neglect to elect 
such officers within the time prescribed by law, or by the order of the gov- 
ernor, they may be appointed by the governor. 

Sec. 4. Volunteer companies of infantry, cavalry and artillery, may 
be formed in such manner and under such restrictions as may be provided 
by law. 

Sec. 5. The volunteer and militia forces shall in all cases, except trea- 
son, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their 
attendance at musters, parades and elections, and in going to and returning 
from the same. 

Sec. 6. The governor shall appoint the adjutant general, quarter- 
master general and his other staff officers. He shall also, with the advice 
and consent of the senate, appoint all major generals and brigadier generals. 

Sec. 7. The general assembly shall provide for the safe keeping of 
the public arms, military records, banners and relics of the state. 

ARTICLE XIV. — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 

Section 1. The general assembly of this state shall never interfere 
with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States, nor with any 
regulation which congress may tind necessary for securing the title in such 
soil to bona -fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the prop- 
erty of the "United States; nor shall lands belonging to persons residing 
out of the limits of this state ever be taxed at a higher rate than the lands. « 
belonging to persons residing within the state. 

Sec. 2. No person shall be prosecuted in any civil action or criminal, 
proceeding for or on account of any act by him done, performed or exe- 
cuted between the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and 
sixty-one, and the twentieth day of August, one thousand eight hundred 
and sixty-six, by virtue of military authority vested in him, or in pursu- 
ance of orders from any person vested with such authority by the govern- 
ment of the United States, or of this state, or of the late Confederate 
states, or any of them, to do such act. And if any action or proceedings 
shall have been, or shall hereafter be instituted against any person for the 
doing of any such act, the defendant may plead this section in bar thereof. 

Sec. 3. No person who shall hereafter fight a duel, or assist in the 
same as a second, or send, accept, or knowingly carry a challenge therefor, 
or agree to go out of this state to right a duel, shall hold any office in this 
state. 

Sec. 4. No person holding an office of profit under the United States, 
shall, during his continuance in such office, hold any office of profit ui: a aot 
this state. 

Sec. 5. In the absence of any contrary provision, all officers noW or 
nereafter elected or appointed, subject to the right of resignation, shall 
hold office during their official terms, and until their successors shall be 
duly elected or appointed and qualified. 

Sec. 6. All officers, both civil and military, under the authority of this 
state, shall, before entering on the duties of their respective offices, take 
and subscribe an oath^or affirmation, to support the constitution of the 
11 



162 CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

United States and of this state, and to demean themselves faithfully in 
office. 

Sec. 7. The general assembly shall, in addition to other penalties, 
provide for the removal from office of county, city, town and township 
officers, on conviction of willful, corrupt or fraudulent violation or neglect 
of official duty. 

Sec 8. The compensation or fees of no state, county or municipal 
officer shall be increased during his term of office; nor shall the term of 
any office be extended for a longer period than that for which such officer 
was elected or appointed. 

Sec 9. The appointment of all officers not otherwise directed by this 
constitution, shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by law. 

Sec 10. The general assembly shall have no power to authorize lot- 
teries or gift enterprises for any purpose, and shall pass laws to prohibit the 
sale of lottery or gift enterprise tickets, or tickets in anjr scheme in the 
nature of a lottery, in this state; and all acts or parts of acts heretofore 
passed by the legislature of this state, authorizing a lottery or lotteries, 
and all acts amendatory thereof, or supplemental thereto, are hereby 
avoided. 

Sec 11. It shall be the duty of the grand jury in each county, at least 
once a year, to investigate the official acts of all officers having charge of 
public funds, and report the result of their investigations in writing to the 
court. 

Sec 12. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases, except trea- 
son, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during the 
session of the general assembly, and for fifteen days next before the com- 
mencement and after the termination of each session ; and for any speech 
or debate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

ARTICLE XV. — mode of amending the constitution. 

Section 1. This constitution may be amended and revised only in 
pursuance of the provisions of this article. 

Sec. 2. The general assembly may, at any time, propose such amend- 
ments to this constitution as a majority of the members elected to each 
house shall deem expedient; and the vote thereon shall betaken by yeas 
and nays, and entered in full on the journals. The proposed amendments 
shall be published with the laws of that session, and also shall be published 
weekly in some newspaper, if such there be, within each county in the 
state, for four consecutive weeks next preceding the general election then 
next ensuing. The proposed amendments shall be submitted to a vote of 
the people, each amendment separately, at the next general election there- 
after, in such manner as the general assembly may provide. If a major- 
ity of the qualified voters of the state, voting for and against any one of 
saic 1 amendments, shall vote for such amendment, the same shall be deemed 
and taken to have been ratified by the people, and shall be valid and 
binding, to all intents and purposes, as a part of this constitution. 

Sec 3. The general assembly may at any time authorize, by law a 
vote of the people to be taken upon the question whether a convention 
shall be held for the purpose of revising and amending the constitution of 
this state; and if at such election a majority of the votes on the question 
be in favor of a convention, the governor shall issue writs to the sheriffs of 
the different counties, ordering the election of delegates to such a conven- 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 163 

tion, on a day not less than three and within six months after that on which 
the said question shall have been voted on. At such election each senato- 
rial district shall elect two delegates for each senator to which it may then 
be entitled in the general assembly, and every such delegate shall have 
the qualifications of a state senator. The election shall be conducted in 
conformity with the laws regulating the election of senators. The dele- 
gates so elected shall meet at such time and place as may.be provided by 
law, and organize themselves into a convention, and proceed to revise and 
amend the constitution; and the constitution when so revised and amend- 
ed, shall, on a day to be therein fixed, not less than sixty days or more than 
six months after that on which it shall have been adopted by the conven- 
tion, be submitted to a vote of the people for and against it, at an election 
to be held for that purpose ; and, if a majority of all the votes given be in 
favor of such constitution, it shall, at the end of thirty days after such elec- 
tion became the constitution of this state. The result of such elec- 
tion shall -be made known by proclamation by the governor. The general 
assembly shall have no power, otherwise than in this section specified, to 
authorize a convention for revising and amending the constitution. 

SCHEDULE. 

That no inconvenience may arise from the alteration and amendments 
in the constitution of this state, and to carry the same into complete effect, 
it is hereby ordained and declared: 

Section 1 . That all laws in force at the adoption of this constitution, 
not inconsistent therewith, shall remain in full force until altered or re- 
pealed by the general assembly; and, all rights, actions, prosecutions, 
claims and contracts of the state, counties, individuals or bodies corporate 
not inconsistent therewith, shall continue to be as valid as if this constitution 
had not been adopted. The provisions of all laws which are inconsistent 
with this constitution, shall cease upon its adoption, except that all laws 
which are inconsistent with such provision of this constitution, as require 
legislation to enforce them, shall remain in force until the first day of July, 
one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, unless sooner amended or 
repealed by the general assembly. 

Sec. 2. That all recognizances, obligations and all other instruments, 
entered into or executed before the adoption of this constitution, to this 
state or to any subdivision thereof, or any municipality therein : and all 
fines, taxes, penalties and forfeitures, due or owing to this state, or any 
such subdivision or municipality; and all writs, prosecutions, actions and 
causes of action, except as herein otherwise provided, shall continue and 
remain unaffected by the adoption of this constitution. All indictments 
which shall have been found or may hereafter be found, for any crime or 
offense committed before this constitution takes effect, may be proceeded 
upon as if no change had taken place, except as otherwise provided in 
this constitution. 

Sec. 3. All county and probate courts, as now constituted and organ- 
ized, shall continue with their jurisdiction, until the general assembly 
shall by law conform them in their organization to the requirements of this 
constitution. 

Sec. 4. All criminal courts organized and existing under the laws of 
this state, and not specially provided for in this constitution, shall continue 
to exist until otherwise provided by law. 

Sec. 5. All courts of common pleas existing and organized in cities 



164: CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 

and towns having a population exceeding three thousand five hundred in- 
habitants, and such as by the law of their creation are presided over by a 
judge of a circuit court, shall continue to exist and exercise their present 
jurisdiction, until otherwise provided by law. All other courts of common 
pleas shall cease to exist at the expiration of the present terms of office of 
the several judges thereof. 

Sec. 6. All persons now filling any office or appointment in this state, 
shall continue in the exercise of the duties thereof, according to their re- 
spective commissions or appointments, unless otherwise provided by law. 

Sec. 7. Upon the adoption of this constitution, all appeals to, and 
writs of error from the supreme court, shall be returnable to the supreme 
court at the city of Jefferson. 

Sec. 8. Until the general assembly shall make provision for the pay- 
ment of the state and railroad indebtedness of this state, in pursuance of 
section fourteen of article ten of this constitution, there shall be levied 
and collected an annual tax of one-fifth of one per centum on all real estate 
and other property and effects subject to taxation, the proceeds of which 
shall be applied to the payment of the interest on the bonded debt of this 
state as it matures, and the surplus, if any, shall be paid into the sinking 
fund and thereafter applied to the payment of such indebtedness, and to 
no other purpose. 

Sec. 9. This constitution shall be submitted to the people of this state 
for adoption or rejection, at an election to be held for that purpose only, on 
Saturday, the thirtieth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and 
seventv-five. Every person entitled to vote under the constitution and 
laws of this state shall be entitled to vote for the adoption or rejection of 
this constitution. Said election shall be held, and said qualified electors 
shall vote at the usual places of voting in the several counties of this state ; 
and said election shall be conducted, and returns thereof made, according 
to the laws now in force regulating general elections. 

Sec. 10. The clerks of the several county courts in this state, shall, at 
least five days before said election, cause to be delivered to the judges of 
election in each election district or precinct, in their respective counties, 
suitable blank poll books, forms of return and five times the number of 
properly prepared printed ballots for said election, that there are voters in 
said respective districts, the expense whereof shall be allowed and paid by 
the several county courts, as other county expenditures are allowed and 
paid. 

Sec. 11. At said election the ballots shall be in the following form: 
New constitution ticket, {erase the clause you do not favor.) New consti- 
tution, — Yes. New constitution, — No. Each of said ticket sshall be 
counted as a vote for or against this constitution, as the one clause or the 
other may be canceled with ink or pencil by the voter, and returns thereof 
shall be made accordingly. If both clauses of the ticket be erased, or if 
neither be erased, the ticket shall not be counted. 

Sec. 12. The returns of the whole vote cast for the adoption and 
against the adoption of this constitution shall be made by the several 
clerks, as now provided by law in case of the election of state officers, to 
the secretary of state, within twenty days after the election ; and the re- 
turns of said votes shall, within ten days thereafter, be examined and 
canvassed by the state auditor, state treasurer and secretary of state, or 
any two of them, in the presence of the governor, and proclamation shall 
be made by the governor forthwith of the result of the canvass. 



CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI. 165 

Sec. 13. If, upon such canvass, it shall appear that a majority of the 
votes polled were in favor of the new constitution, then this constitution 
shall, on and after the thirtieth day of November, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and seventy-five, be the supreme law of the state of Missouri, and the 
present existing constitution shall thereupon cease in all its provisions; 
but if it shall appear that a majority of the votes polled were against the 
new constitution, then this constitution shall be null and void, and the 
existing constitution shall continue in force. 

Sec. 14. The provisions of this schedule required to be executed prior 
to the adoption or rejection of this constitution, shall take effect and be in 
force immediately. 

Sec. 15. The general assembly shall pass all such laws as may be 
necessary to carry this constitution into full effect. 

Sec. 16. The present secretary of state, state auditor, attorney-general, 
and superintendent of public schools, shall, during the remainder of their 
terms of office, unless otherwise directed by law, receive the same com- 
pensation and fees as is now provided by law ; and the present state treas- 
urer shall, during the remainder of the term of his office, continue to be 
governed by existing law, in the custod}' and disposition of the state 
funds, unless otherwise directed by law. 

Sec 17. Section twelve of [the] bill of rights shall not be so construed 
as to prevent arrests and preliminary examination in any criminal case. 

Done in convention, at tne capitol, in the city of Jefferson, on the second day of August, 
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, and of the inde- 
pendence of the United States the one hundredth. 

WALDO P. JOHNSON, President, St. Clair county. 
N. W. WATKINS, Vice President, Scott county. 
Adams, Washington, Cooper. Letcher, Wm. H., Saline. 

Allen, DeWitt O, Clay. Lay, Alfred M., Cole. 

Alexander, A. M., Monroe. ' Mabret, Pinckney, Ripley. 

Black, Francis IV!., Jackson. Massey, B. F , Newton. 

Boone, Henry, DeKalb. Maxey, James Harvey, Howell, 

Bradfield, George W., Laclede. McAfee, Charles B., Greene. 

Broadhead, James O., St. Louis. McKee, Archibald V\, Lincoln. 

Brokmeyer, Henhy C, St. Louis. McCabe, Edward, Marion. 

Carleton, George W, Pemiscot. McKillop, Malcomb, Atchison. 

Chrisman, William, Jackson. Mortell, Nicholas A., St. Louis. 

Conway, Edmund V., St. Francois. Mudd, Henry Thomas, St. Louis. 

Cottey, Louis F., Knox. Nickerson, Edmund A., Johnson. 

Crews, T. W. B., Franklin. Norton, Elijah Hise, Platte. 

Crockett, Samuel R., Vernon. Pipkin, Philip, Jefferson. 

Davis, Lowndey Henry, Cape Girardeau. Priest, William, Platte. 
Dryden, Leonidas J., Warren Pulitzer, Joseph, St. Louis. 

Dysart, Benjamin Robert, Macon. Ray, John, Barry. 

Edwards, John F. T., Iron. Rider, J. H., Bollinger. 

Edwards, James C, St. Louis. Ripey, J. R., Schuyler. 

Eitzen, Charles D., Gasconade. Roberts, James C, Buchanan. 

F arris, Jamss L., Ray. Ross, J. P., Morgan. 

Fyan, Robert VV. Webster. Ross, John W., Polk. 

Gantt, Thomas Tasker, St. Louis. Rucker, John Fleming, Boone. 

Gottschalk, Louis, St. Louis. Shackelford, Thomas, Howard*. 

Hale, John B., Carroll. Shanklin, John H., Grundy. 

Halliburton, W., Sullivan. Shields, George H., St. Louis. 

Hammond, Charles, Chariton. Spaundorst, Henry J , St. Louis. 

Hardin, Neil Cameron, Pike. Switzler, William F., Boone. 

Holliday, J. A., Caldwell. Taylor, John H., Jasper 

Hyer, John, Dent, Taylor, Amos Riley, St. Louis. 

Johnson, Horace B., Cole. Todd, Albert, St. Louis. 

Johnston, T. J., Nodoway. Wagner, L. J , Scotland. 

Lackland, Henry Clay, St. Charles. Wallace, Henry C, Lafayette. 

Attkt- G. N. NOLAN, Secretary. 

J. Boyle Adams, Assistant Secretary 



Abstract of Missouri State Laws. 



BILLS OF EXCHANGE. 



A bill of exchange is a written order from one person to another, direct- 
ing the person to whom it is addressed to pay to a third person a certain 
sum of money therein named. 

The person making the bill is called the maker. The person to whom 
it is directed is called the drawee, and the person in whose favor the bill 
of exchange is made payable, is called the payee, and the person who 
acceepts a bill of exchange, is called the acceptor. 

A bill of exchange may be negotiable or non-negotiable ; if negotiable, it 
may be transferred either before or after acceptance. To make it negotia- 
ble it must be payable to the order of the payee, or to the bearer, or must 
contain other equivalent or operative words of transfer. 

Bills of exchange containing no words of transfer, are non-negotiable. 

The usual form of accepting bills of exchange, is by writing "accepted'* 
across the bill, and signing the acceptor's name. 

After such acceptance the acceptor becomes liable for the payment of 
the bill upon its maturity. 

No person within this state shall be charged as an acceptor of a bill of 
exchange unless his acceptance shall be in writing signed by himself, or 
his lawful agent. 

If such acceptance be written on a paper other than the bill, it shall not 
bind the acceptor. Except in favor of a person to whom such acceptance 
shall have been shown, and who upon the faith thereof shall have received 
the bill for a valuable consideration. 

An unconditional promise in writing to accept a bill before it is 
drawn, will be binding upon the acceptor in favor of any person who 
upon the faith of such written promise shall have received the bill for a 
valuable consideration. 

Every holder of a bill presenting the same for acceptance, may require 
that the acceptance be written on the bill, and a refusal to comply with 
such request, shall be deemed a refusal to accept, and the bill may be pro- 
tested for non-acceptance. 

Every person upon whom a bill of exchange ma)' be drawn, and to 
whom the same shall be delivered for acceptance, who shall destroy such 
bill or refuse within twenty-four hours after such delivery, or within such 
period as the holder may allow to return the bill accepted or non-accepted 
to the holders, shall be deemed to have accepted the same. 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 1G7 

When any bill of exchange expressed to be for value received, drawn 
or negotiated within this state, shall be duly presented for acceptance or 
payment, and protested for non-acceptance or non-payment, there shall be 
allowed and paid to the holders by the drawer and endorsers having due 
notice of the dishonor of the bill, damages in the following cases: First, 
if the bill shall have been drawn bv an}' person, at any place within this 
state, at the rate of four per centum on the principal sum specified in the 
bill. Second, if the bill shall have been drawn on any person, at any 
place out of this state, but within the United States or territories thereof, 
at the rate of two per centum on the principal sum specified in the bill. 
Third, if the bill shall have been drawn on any person, at any part or 
place without the United States and their territories, at the rate of 
twenty per centum on the principal sum specified in the bill. 

If any bill of exchange expressed to be for value received, shall be 
drawn on any person, at any place within this state, and accepted, and 
payment shall not be duly made by the acceptor, there shall be allowed 
and paid to the holder, by the acceptor, damages in the following cases: 
First, if the bill be drawn by any person, at any place within this state, 
at the rate of four per centum on the principal sum therein specified. 
Second, if the bill be drawn by any person, at any place without this 
state, but within the United States or territories, at the rate of ten per 
centum on the principal sum therein specified. / 

The damages herein allowed shall be recovered only by the holder ot 
a bill, who shall have purchased the bill or acquired some interest therein, 
for valuable consideration. In cases of non-acceptance or non-payment 
of a bill, drawn at any place within this state, on any person at a place 
within the same, no damages shall be recovered, if payment of the prin- 
cipal sum, with interest and charges of protest, be paid within twenty 
days after demand, or notice of the dishonor of the bill. 

If the contents of a bill be expressed in the money of account of the 
United States, the amount due and the damages therein, shall be ascer- 
tained and determined without any reference to the rate of exchange 
existing between this state and the place on which the bill shall have been 
drawn, at the time of demand of payment or notice of the dishonor of the 
bill. 

If the contents of such bill be expressed in the money of account or 
currency of any foreign country, then the amount due, exclusive of dam- 
ages, shall be ascertained and determined by the rate of exchange, or the 
value of such foreign currency at the time of payment. 

Every bill of ex "hange, draft or order drawn either within this state or 
elsewhere upon any person residing within this state, payable on its face 
at sight, or on demand, shall be deemed and considered to be due and 
payable on the day it is presented, or demanded, any. usage or custom 



168 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

here or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, and if not so paid, 
may be protested for non-payment. i 

If in any suit founded upon any negotiable promissory note or bill of 
exchange, or in which such bill or note is produced, might be allowed in 
the defense of any suit, it appear on the trial that such note or bill was 
lost while it belonged to the party claiming the amount due thereon, 
parol or other evidence of the contents thereof, may be given on such 
trial, and such party shall be entitled to recover the amount due thereon 
as if such note or bill had been produced. 

To entitle a part}' to such recovery, he or some responsible person for 
him, shall execute a bond to the adverse party in a penalty at least double 
the amount of such note or bill, with two sufficient securities, to be 
approved by the court in which the trial shall be had, conditioned to 
indemnify the adverse party against all claims by any other person on 
account of such note or bill, and against all costs and expenses by reason 
of such claim. 

BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES. 

A promissory note is a written promise to pay a certain sum of money 
at a future time, unconditionally. 

The person to whom the money is payable is called the payee. 

The maker is the one who promises to pay the money when the note 
becomes due. 

A note payable to bearer is negotiated or transferred by mere delivery, 
and the possession of the note is frima facie proof of title. 

A note payable to the order of a particular person is transferred or 
negotiated by writing the name of the person upon the back of the note, 
which is called an endorsement. The person making the endorsement 
is called the endorser. The person for whose benefit it is made is called 
the endorsee. 

Every promissory note for the payment of money to the payee therein 
named, or order or bearer, and expressed to be for value received, shall be 
due and payable as therein expressed and shall have the same effect and 
be negotiable in like manner as inland bills of exchange. 

The payee and endorsers of every such negotiable note payable to them 
or order, and the holder of every such note payable to bearer may main- 
tain actions for the sums of monev therein mentioned, against the makers 
and endorsers of them in like manner as in cases of inland bills of exchange, 
and not otherwise. 

Such negotiable promissory note made payable to the order of the 
maker thereof, or to the order of a fictitious person shall, if negotiated by 
the maker, have the same effect and be of the same validity as against the 
maker, and all persons having knowledge of the facts, as if payable to 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

bearer. Provided, That negotiable note in the hands of the purchaser of 
the same from the makers by way of discount or investment if protested 
for non-payment at maturity, shall not be subjected to damages. 

When the day of payment of any bond, bill of exchange, or promissory 
note, shall according to its terms, be a Sunday, Christmas day, Thanks- 
giving day (State or National), New Years day, or a Fourth of July, its 
payment shall be deemed due and be demandable on such day next before 
its day of payment, according to its terms, as shall not be one of the days 
above specified. 

A notarial protest is evidence of a demand and refusal to pay a bill of 
exchange or negotiable promissory note, at the time and in the manner 
stated in such protest. 

FORM OF NEGOTIABLE NOTE. 

$1,000. Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 1, 1869. 

Thirty days after date, I promise to pay Richard Roe, or order, 
One Thousand Dollars, value received, with interest after due at the rate 
of ten per cent per annum. Louis Roy. 

NON-NEGOTIABLE NOTE. 

$100.00. Kansas City, Mo., Aug, 1, 1869. 

Thirty days after date, I promise to pay Richard Roe, 
One Hundred Dollars, value received, with interest from date, at the rate 
of ten per cent per annum. Louis Roy. 

INTEREST. 

The legal rate of interest is six per cent. 

Parties may agree in writing for the payment of interest not exceeding 
ten per cent. 

Money due upon judgments or order of court, shall draw interest from 
the day of rendering the same. All such judgments and orders for money 
upon contracts, bearing more than six per cent., shall bear the same inter- 
est borne by such contracts. All other judgments and orders for money 
shall draw six per cent. 

If a greater rate of interest than ten per cent, is contracted for, and suit 
brought upon the same, judgment will be entered for six per cent., and 
the whole interest shall be set apart for, and become a part of the com- 
mon school fund. 

Parties may contract in writing for the payment of interest upon inter- 
est; but interest shall not be compounded oftener than once a year. 
Where a different rate is not expressed, interest upon interest shall be at 
the same rate as interest on the principal debt. 



170 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

DESCENTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY. 

Property in this state shall be distributed in the following course, sub- 
ject to the payment of debts and the widow's dower: 

First. To the children or their descendants in equal parts. 

Second. If there be no children or their descendants, then to the father, 
mother, brothers and sisters, and their descendants, in equal parts. 

Third. If there be no children, or their descendants, father, mother, 
brother or sister, or their descendants, then to the husband or wife. 
If there be no husband or wife, then to the grandfather, grandmother, 
uncles and aunts, and their descendants, in equal parts. 

Fourth. If there be no children or their descendants, father, mother, 
sister, brother or their descendants, husband or wife, grandfather, grand- 
mother, uncles, aunts, nor. their descendants, then to the great-grandfather, 
great-grandmother, and their descendants, in equal parts, and so on in 
other cases without end, passing to the nearest lineal ancestors and their 
children, and their descendants, in equal parts. 

Posthumous children, or descendants of the intestate, shall inherit in 
like manner as if born in the lifetime of the intestate. This does not 
a PPty to anyone other than the children or. descendants of the intestate 
unless they are in being and capable in law to take as heirs at the time of 
the intestate's death. 

If there be no children or their descendants, father, mother, brother or 
sister, nor their descendants, husband or wife, nor any paternal or mater- 
nal kindred capable of inheriting, the whole shall go to the kindred of the 
wife or husband of the intestate in the like course as if such wife or hus- 
band had survived the intestate and then died entitled to the estate. 

If any of the children receive anv real or personal estate in the lifetime 
of the intestate by way of advancement, shall choose to come into par- 
tition with the other heirs, such advancement shall be brought into 
hatchpot with the estate descended. 

Maintaining, educating, or giving money to a child under majority 
without any view to a portion or settlement, shall not be deemed an 
advancement. 

Bastards shall inherit and be capable of transmitting inheritance on the 
part of their mother, and such mother may inherit from her bastard 
child or children in like manner as if they had been lawfully begotten of 
her. 

The issues of all marriages decreed null in law or dissolved by divorce 
shall be legitimate. 

Persons of color shall inherit as above set forth, providing it shall 
appear to the court that they are residents of this state, or if residents of 
some other state, are free persons. 

The children of all parents who were slaves, and who were living 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 171 

together in good faith as man and wife at the time of the birth of such 
children, shall be deemed to be the legitimate children of such parents. 
All children of any one mother who was a slave at the time of her birth 
shall be deemed lawful brothers and sisters for the purposes of this 
chapter. 

WILLS. 

The term will, or last will and testament, means the disposition of one's 
property, to take effect after death. No exact form of words is neces- 
sary in order to make a will good at law. 

Every person of twenty-one years of age and upward, of sound mind, 
may, by last will, devise all his estate, real, personal and mixed, and all 
interest therein, saving the widow her dower. Every person over the 
age of eighteen years, of sound mind, may by last will, dispose of his 
goods and chatties. Every will must be in writing, signed by the testator 
or by some person by his direction, in his presence, and shall be attested 
by two or more competent witnesses, subscribing their names to the will 
in the presence of the testator. 

No will in writing, except in cases hereinafter mentioned, nor any part 
thereof, shall be revoked, except by a subsequent will in writing, or by 
burning, canceling, tearing or obliterating the same by the testator, or in 
his presence, and by his consent and direction. 

If, after making a will disposing of the whole estate of the testator, 
such testator shall marry, and die, leaving issue by such marriage living 
at the time of his death, or shall leave issue of such marriage born to 
him after his death, such will shall be deemed revoked, unless provisions 
shall have been made for such issue by some settlement, or unless such 
issue shall be provided for in the will, and no evidence shall be received to 
rebut the presumption of such revocation. 

A will executed by an unmarried woman shall be deemed revoked by 
her subsequent marriage. 

If a person make his will and die leaving children not provided for, 
although born after making the will, he shall be deemed to die intestate, 
and such children shall be entitled to such proportion as if he had died 
intestate. All other heirs or legatees must refund their proportionate part. 

The county court or clerk thereof in vacation subject to the confirma- 
tion or rejection of the court, shall take the proof of the last will of the 
testator. 

GENERAL FORM OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL 

PROPERTY. 
I, Richard Johnson, of Carroll county, in the state of Missouri, being 
of sound mind and memory, and of full age, do hereby make and publish 
this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me 
made. 



172 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

First. I direct the payment of all lawful claims against my estate, to 
be made out of the proceeds of the sale of my personal property. 

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to my eldest son, John B. Johnson, 
the sum of five thousand dollars of bank stock, in the First National 
Bank of Lexington, Missouri, and the farm owned by myself in the town- 
ship of , in the county of Saline, consisting of 100 acres, with all 

the houses, tenements and improvements thereunto belonging, to have 
and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assigns forever. 

Third. I give, devise, and bequeath to each of my daughters, Mary E. 
Johnson and Clara B. Johnson, each five thousand dollars in bank stock,. 
in the First National Bank, of Lexington, Missouri; and also, each one 

quarter section of land owned by myself, situated in the township of 

Ray county, Missouri. 

Fourth. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank R. Johnson, the 
farm owned by myself, situated in Chariton county, Missouri, consisting 
of six hundred and forty acres, together with all stock, houses, anc 
improvements, thereunto belonging. 

Fifth. I give to my wife, Elizabeth Johnson, all my household furni- 
ture, goods, chattels and personal property about my house, not hitherto 
disposed of, including six thousand dollars of bank stock, in the First 
National Bank of Lexington, Missouri, and the free and unrestricted use, 
possession and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live — saic 
farm being my present place of residence. 

Sixth. I give and bequeath to my mother, Martha Johnson, the income 
from rents of my store building, at No. 905 Pine street, St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, during the term of her natural life, said building and land therewith 
to revert to my sons and daughters, in equal proportions, upon the demise 
of my said mother. 

Seventh. It is also my will and desire that at the death of my wife, Eliz- 
abeth Johnson, that the above, mentioned homestead may revert to m; 
above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. 

Eighth. I appoint as my executors of this, my last will and testament, 
my wife, Elizabeth Johnson, and my eldest son John B. Johnson. 

In witness whereof, I, Richard Johnson, to this, my last will and testa- 
ment, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of June 
eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Richard Johnson. 

Signed and declared by Richard Richard Johnson, as and for his last 
will and testament, in the presence of each other, have subscribed our 
names hereunto, as witnesses thereof. 

Edward Davison, Sedalia y Missouri. 
Frederick Jones, Marshall, Missouri. 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 173 

CODICIL. 

Whereas, I, Richard Johnson, did, on the fourth day of June, one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, make my last will and testa- 
ment, I do now, by this writing add this codicil to my said will, to be 
taken as part thereof. 

Whereas, By the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Clara B. 
Johnson, has deceased, March the first, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
six; and -whereas, a. son has been born to me, which son is now christened 
David S. Johnson, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, and all 
right, interest and title in lands and bank stock, and chattels bequeathed 
to my deceased daughter, Clara B., in the body of this will. 

In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth day 
of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven. Richard Johnson. 

Signed, sealed, published and declared to us, by the testator, Richard 
Johnson, as and for a codicil, to be annexed to his will and testament; and 
we, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other 
have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, at the date hereof. 

Peter Brown, Lexington, Missouri. 
Robert Burr, Richmond, Missouri. 

TAXES. 

For the support of the government of the state, the payment of the 
public debt, and the advancement of the public interest, taxes shall be 
levied on all property, real and personal, except as stated below : 

No tax shall be assessed for or imposed by any city, county, or other 
municipal corporation, or for their use upon the following property: All 
houses, necessary furniture and equipments thereof, used exclusively for 
public worship, and the lot of ground on which the same may be erected. 
All orphan or other asylums, for the relief of the sick or needy, with their 
furniture and equipments, and the lands on which they are erected and 
used therewith, so long as the same shall be held and used for that pur- 
pose only ; all universities, colleges, academies, schools, and all other sem- 
inaries of learning, with the furniture and equipments, and land thereto, 
belonging or used immediately therewith, and their endowment fund, 
when not invested in real estate, so long as the same shall be employed 
for that purpose only. Provided, That the land hereby exempted from 
taxation, belonging to any of the last named institutions, in any city or 
town, shall not exceed two acres, and in the county, not exceed five acres. 
And further provided, That such property, so exempted, shall not be 
under rent to any person, corporation, or society, and shall not, in any 
way or manner, be paying or yielding any rent or profit. Cemeteries 
and graveyards set apart and used for that purpose only. All real estate 
and other property belonging to any incorporated agricultural society, so 



174: ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

long as the same shall be employed for the use of such society and none 
other. All libraries and their furniture and equipments, belonging to any 
library association or society. Nothing in this section shall be construed 
as to exempt from municipal or local taxation any description of property, 
when the same is held for the purpose of pecuniary profit or speculation. 

Lots in incorporated cities or towns, or within one mile of the limits of 
such city or town, to the extent of one acre, and lots, one mile distant 
from such cities or towns, to the extent of five acres, with the buildings 
thereon, when the same are used exclusively for religious worship, for 
schools, or for purposes purely charitable, shall be exempt from taxatior 
for state, county, or local purposes. 

There shall be annually assessed and collected on the assessed value oi 
all the real estate and personal property subject by law to taxation in the 
state one-fifth of one per centum for state revenue and one-fifth of one 
per centum for the payment of all state indebtedness. 

The assessor or his deputy or deputies shall, between the first days ol 
August and January, and after being furnished with the necessary books 
and blanks by the county clerk, at the expense of the county, proceed to take 
a list of the taxable personal property in his county, town, or district, anc 
assess the value thereof in the manner following, to-wit: He shall call at 
the office, place of doing business, or residence of each person requirec 
by this act to list property, and shall require such person to make a cor- 
rect statement of all taxable property owned by such person, or under 
the care, charge, or management of such person, except merchandise 
which may be required to pay a license tax, being in any county in this 
state, in accordance with the provisions of this act, and the person listin| 
the property shall enter a true and correct statement of such property ii 
a printed or written blank prepared for that purpose,* which statement 
after being filled out, shall be signed and sworn to, to the extent required 
by this act, by the person listing the property, and delivered to the 
assessor, and such assessor's book shall be arranged and divided into two 
parts: The "land list" and the "personal property list." If any tax- 
payer shall fail or neglect to pay such collector his taxes at the time and 
place required by such notices, then it shall be the duty of the collector 
after the first day of January then next, to collect and account for as 
other taxes, an additional tax, as a penalty, of one per cent per month 
upon all taxes collected by him after the first day of January, as afore- 
said, and in computing said additional tax or penalty a fractional part of 
a month shall not be counted as a whole month. Collectors shall on the 
day of their annual settlement with the county court, file with said court a 
statement under oath of the amount so received, and from whom received, 
and settle with the court therefor; -provided, however, that said interest 
shall not be chargeable against persons who are absent from their homes 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 175 

and engaged in the military service of this state, or of the United States, 
or against any tax payer who shall pay his taxes to the collector at any 
time before the first day of January in each year; provided, that the 
provisions of this section shall apply to the city of St. Louis so far as the 
same relates to the addition of said interest which in said city shall be 
collected and accounted for by the collector as other taxes, for which he 
shall receive no compensation. 

Every county collector shall on or before the fifteenth day of each 
month pay to the state treasurer all taxes or licenses received by him 
prior to the first day of the month. 

The sheriff's deed executed to the purchaser of real estate under a sale 
for delinquent taxes, which shall be acknowledged before the circuit court 
of the county or city as in ordinary cases; shall conyey a title in fee to 
such purchaser of the real estate therein named, and shall be -prima facie 
evidence of title, and the matters and things therein stated are true. 

COURTS OF RECORD— THEIR JURISDICTION. 

SUPREME COURT. 

At the general election in the year eighteen hundred and eighty, and 
every two years thereafter, there shall be elected one judge of the 
supreme court, who shall hold his office for a term of ten years from the 
first day of January next after his election, and until his successor is duly 
elected and qualified. The majority of the judges may order special 
terms. 

CIRCUIT COURTS. 

At the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and 
eighty, and at the general election every sixth year thereafter, except as 
otherwise provided by law, all the circuit judges shall be elected, and 
shall enter upon their offices on the first Monday in January next ensuing. 
Circuit courts in the respective counties in which they may be held shall 
have power and jurisdiction as follows : First, as courts of law in all 
criminal cases which shall not be otherwise provided for by law. Second, 
exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil cases which shall not be cogniz- 
able before the county courts, probate courts, and justices of the peace 
and not otherwise provided by law. Third, concurrent original jurisdic- 
tion with justices of the peace in all civil actions and proceedings for the 
recovery of money, whether such action be founded upon contract or 
trust or upon a" bond or undertaking given in pursuance of law in any 
civil action or proceeding, or for a penalty or forfeiture given by any 
statute of this state when the sum demanded, exclusive of interest and 
cost, shall exceed fifty dollars and does not exceed one hundred and fifty 
dollars, and of all actions against any railroad company in this state to 
recover damages for the killing or injuring of horses, mules, cattle or 



176 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 






other animals, without regard to the value of such animals or the amount 
claimed for killing or injury, the same in all counties or cities having over 
fifty thousand inhabitants; concurrent original jurisdiction with justices 
of the peace of all actions and proceedings for the recovery of money, 
whether such actions be founded upon contract or tort or upon a bond 
or undertaking given in any civil action or proceeding, or for a penalty or 
forfeiture given by any statute of this state when the sum demanded, 
exclusive of interest and cost, shall exceed fifty dollars and not exceed 
two hundred and fifty dollars, and of all actions against any railroad com- 
pany in this state to recover damages for the killing or injuring horses, 
mules, cattle or other animals, without regard to the value of such ani- 
mals or the amount of damages claimed for killing or injuring the same. 
Fourth, appellate jurisdiction from the judgments and orders of the coun- 
ty court, probate court, and justices of the peace in all cases not expressly 
prohibited by law, and shall possess the superintending control over them. 
Fifth, the general control over executors, administrators, guardians, cura- 
tors, minors, idiots, lunatics, and persons of unsound mind. 

COUNTY COURT. 

The county court shall be composed of three members, to be styled the 
judges of the county court; and each county shall be districted by the 
county court thereof into two districts of contiguous territory, as near 
equal in population as practicable, without dividing municipal townships. 
Judges of this court shall be elected for a term of two years. At the 
general election of 1882, they shall be elected for four years. Four terms 
of the county court shall be held in each county annually, at the place of 
holding courts therein, commencing on the first Monday in February, 
May, August, and November, and shall also have power to order special 
terms. This court has control of county property, settling with county 
treasurers, etc. 

PROBATE COURTS. 

A probate court which shall be a court of record and consist of one 
judge is hereby established in the city of St. Louis and in every county in 
this state. 

Jurisdiction — Said court shall have jurisdiction over all matters per- 
taining to probate business, to granting letters testimentary and of adminis- 
tration, the appointment of guardians and curators of minors and per- 
sons of unsound mind, settling the accounts of executors, administrators, 
curators and guardians, and the sale or leasing of lands by administrators, 
curators and guardians, and over all matters relating to apprentices, and 
such judges shall have the power to solemnize marriages. 

Judges of this court shall be elected in the year eighteen hundred and 
seventy-eight, and every four years thereafter. Said judge shall be com- 
missioned by the governor and shall hold his office for four years. 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 177 

ST. LOUIS COURT OF APPEALS. 

The qualified voters of the counties of the city of St. Louis, the counties 
of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren, shall elect a judge of the 
St. Louis court of appeals, who shall be a resident of district composed of 
said counties, and who shall hold offices for a term of twelve years. The 
St. Louis court of appeals shall consist of three judges, who shall possess 
the same qualifications as judges of the supreme court. The court shall 
have a marshal, janitor and reporter. 

LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS. 

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. 

Offenses punishable with death or imprisonment in the penitentiary dur- 
ing life, may be prosecuted at any time after the offense shall have been 
committed. 

For felonies other than above mentioned, within three years after the 
commission of the offense. 

For any offense other than felony or fine or forfeiture, within one year 
after the commission of the offense. 

Actions and suits upon statute for penalty or forfeiture given in whole 
or part, to any person who will prosecute within one year after the com- 
missions of the offense. 

When penalty is given in whole or in part to the state, or county or 
city or the treasurer of the same, suit must be brought within two years. 

Actions upon any statute for any penalty or forfeiture given in whole or 
in part to the party aggrieved within three years. 

Actions against moneyed corporations, or against the directors or stock- 
holders of the same, shall be brought within six years of the discovery. 

LIMITATION OF PERSONAL ACTIONS. 

Civil actions other than those for the recovery of real propery, must 
be commenced within the periods here prescribed. 

Actions upon any writing, whether sealed or unsealed, for the payment 
of money or property, within ten years. 

Actions brought on any covenant of warranty in deed, or conveyance of 
land; within ten years. 

Actions on any covenant of seizure contained in any such deed, within 
ten years. 

Actions upon contracts, obligations, or liabilities — express or implied, 
except as above mentioned, and except upon judgments or decrees of a 
court of record, within five years. 
12 



178 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

Actions upon liability created by statute, other than penalty or forfeiture, 
five years. 

Actions for trespass on real estate, five years. 

Actions for taking, detaining, or injuring any goods or chattels, includ- 
ing actions for the recovery of specific personal property, or for any other 
injury to the person or rights of another not arising on contract and not 
otherwise enumerated, five years. 

Actions for relief on the ground of fraud, five years. 

Actions against a sheriff, coroner, or other public officer upon a liability 
incurred by doing an act in his official capacity, or the omission of an 
official duty, non-payment of money collected, etc., three years. 

Actions upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture where the action is 
given to the party aggrieved, or to such party and the state, three years. 

Actions for libel, slander, assault and battery, false imprisonment, or 
•criminal conversation, two years. 

LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY. 

Actions for the recovery of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or 
for the recovery of the possession thereof, shall be commenced by any 
person whether citizen, denizen, alien, resident or non-resident, unless 
his ancestor, predecessor, grantor, or other person under whom he claims 
was seized or possessed of the premises in question, within ten years 
before the commencement of such actions, except in case of military bounty 
lands, which must be brought within two years. » 

No entry upon any lands, tenements or hereditaments shall be valid as a 
claim, unless the action be commenced thereon within one year after the 
making of such entry, and within ten years from the time when the right 
to make such entry accrued. 

If anv person entitled to bring an action as above stated, shall be under 
twenty-one years of age, or imprisoned for less than life, or insane, or a 
married woman, the time during such disability shall continue, shall not be 
deemed any portion of the time limited for the com^nencement of such 
action or the making of such entry after the time so limited, and may b 
brought in three years after the disability is removed. 

If an}' person having the right to bring such action or make such entr 
die during the disability mentioned, and no determination be had of the 
right, tide, or action to him accrued, his heirs«or any one claiming under 
him, may commence such action within three years. # 

JURIES. 

SELECTION OF GRAND JURY. 

A grand jury shall consist of twelve men, and, unless otherwise ordere 
as hereinafter provided, it shall be the duty of the sheriff of each count 
in the state to summon within the time prescribed by law a panel of 



: 






ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 171) 

grand jurors, consisting of twelve good and lawful men, selected from 
the different townships of his county, as near as may be in proportion to 
the number of male citizens in each, to be returned to each regular term 
of the courts in his county having criminal jurisdiction. 

Every juror, grand and petit, shall be a male citizen of the state, 
resident in the county, sober and intelligent, of good reputation, over 
twenty-one years of age, and otherwise qualified. 

In all counties having a population less than twenty thousand inhabit- 
ants, every juror, grand and petit, shall be a male citizen of the state, 
resident in the county, sober and intelligent, of good reputation, over 
twenty-one years of age, and otherwise qualified. 

No exception to a juror on account of his citizenship, non-residence, 
state, or age, or other legal disability, shall be allowed after the jury is 
sworn. 

No person being a member of any volunteer fire department duly 
organized and ready for active service ; no person employed in any paid 
fire department, and no person exercising the functions of a clergyman, 
practitioner of medicine, or attorney-at-law, clerk or other officer of any 
court, ferry-keeper, postmaster, overseer of roads, coroner, constable, 
miller, professor or other teacher in any school or institution of learning, 
judge of a court of record, or any person over the age of sixty-five years 
shall be compelled to serve on any jury. 

No person shall be summoned to serve at more than one term of court, 
either as grand or petit juror, within the period of one year in any court 
of record. Each person summoned under this act shall receive one dollar 
and fifty cents per day for every day he shall serve as such, and five cents 
for every mile he may necessarily travel in going from his place of resi- 
dence to the court house and returning to the same, to be paid out of the 
county treasury. 

All persons duly summoned as grand or petit jurors may be attached 
for non-attendance, and fined by the court for contempt in any sum not 
exceeding fifty dollars, in the discretion of the court. 

In all suits which hereafter may be pending in any court of record in 
this state the clerk shall, if a jury be sworn to try the same, tax up as 
other costs against the unsuccessful party a jury fee of six dollars, which 
shall be collected by the sheriff, and paid into the hands of the county 
treasurer, who shall keep an account thereof, in a separate book to be 
provided for that purpose, and the money so collected and paid in shall 
constitute a jury fund. 

Grand jurors shall not be compelled to serve on a petit jury during the 
same term. 

In all civil cases in courts of record, where "a. jury is demanded, there 
shall be summoned and returned eighteen qualified jurors; but in appeal 



180 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

cases the number shall be the same as allowed by law in the courts from 
which the appeals are taken, and the number of peremptory challenges in 
addition. 

In the trial of civil causes, each party shall be entitled to challenge per- 
emptorily three jurors. 

MARRIED WOMEN. 

The homestead of every housekeeper or head of a family, consisting of 
a dwelling-house and appurtenances, and the land used in connection there- 
with, which shall be used by such housekeeper or head of a family as such 
homestead, shall be exempt from attachment and execution. 'Such home- 
stead in the country shall not include more than 160 acres of land or exceed 
the total value of $1,500 ; and in cities having a population of 40,000 or 
more such homestead shall not include more than eighteen square rods of 
ground, or exceed the total value of three thousand dollars; and in cities 
or incorporated towns and villages having a less population than 40,000, 
such homestead shall not include more than thirty square rods of ground, 
or exceed the total value of $1,500. After the filing by the wife of her 
claim upon the homestead as such, the husband shall be debarred from 
and incapable of selling, mortgaging or alienating the homestead in any 
manner whatever. 

A husband and wife may convev the real estate of the wife, and the 
wife may relinquish her dower in the real estate of her husband, by their 
joint deed, acknowledged and certified as herein provided, but no covenant 
expressed or implied in such deed shall bind the wife or the heirs except 
so far as may be necessary effectually to convey from her or her heirs all 
her right, title and interest expressed to be conveyed therein. 

A married woman may convey her real estate or relinquish her dower 
in the real estate of her husband by a power of attorney authorizing its 
conveyance, executed and acknowledged by her jointly with her husband, 
as deeds conveying real estate by them are required to be executed and 
acknowledged. 

If any married woman shall hold real estate in her own right, and her 
husband, by criminal conduct toward a her, or by ill usage, shall give such 
married woman cause to live separate and apart from her husband, such 
woman may by her next friend petition the circuit court, setting forth such 
facts, and therein pray that such estate may be enjoyed by her for her 
sole use and benefit. 

Any personal property, including rights in action, belonging to any 
woman at her marriage, or which may have come to her during coverture 
by gift, bequest or inheritance, or by purchase with her separate money 
or means, or be due as the wages of her separate labor, or have grown 
out of any violation of her personal rights, shall, together with all income, 
increase and profits thereof, be and remain her separate property, and 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 181 

under her sole control, and shall not be liable to be taken by any process 
of law for the debts of her husband. 

EXEMPTIONS FROM EXECUTION. 
Whenever the personal property of any homestead or head of a family 
shall be attached or taken in execution, the debtor therein shall claim that 
the same, or any part thereof, is the product of such homestead, the officer 
taking the same shall cause appraisers to be appointed and sworn, as in 
the case of the levy of execution on real estate, and such appraisers shall 
decide upon such claim and settle the products of such homestead to such 
debtor accordingly, and the proceedings therein shall be stated by such 
officer in his return. 

Any policy of insurance heretofore or hereafter made by any insurance 
company on the life of any person, expressed to be for the benefit of any 
married woman, whether the same be effected by herself or by her hus- 
band, or by any third person in her behalf, shall inure to her separate use 
and benefit and that of her children, if any, independently of her husband 
and of his creditors and representatives, and also independently of such 
third person effecting the same in his behalf, his creditors and representa- 
tives. 

The following property only shall be exempt from attachment and exe- 
cution when owned by any person other than the head of a family: First, 
the wearing apparel of all persons. Second, the necessary tools and 
implements of trade of any mechanic while carrying on his trade. 

The following property, when owned by the head of a family, shall be 
exempt from attachment and execution. First, ten head of choice hogs, 
ten head of choice sheep, or the product thereof, in wool, yarn or cloth; 
two cows and calves, two plows, one axe, one hoe and one set of plow 
gears and all necessary farm implements for the use of one man. Second, 
wording animals of the value of one hundred and fifty dollars. Third, 
the spinning wheel and cards, one loom and apparatus necessary for man- 
ufacturing cloth in a private family. Fourth, all the spun yarn, thread 
and cloth, manufactured for family use. Fifth, any quantity of hemp, flax 
and wool not exceeding twenty-five pounds each. Sixth, all wearing 
apparel of the family, four beds with their usual bedding, and such other 
household and kitchen furniture not exceeding the value of one hundred 
dollars, as may be necessary for the family, agreeably to an inventory 
thereof to be returned on oath, with the execution, by the officer whose 
duty it may be to levy the same. Seventh, the necessary tools and imple- 
ments of trade of any mechanic, while carrying on his trade. Eighth, 
all arms and equipments required by law to be kept. Ninth, all such 
provisions as may be found on hand for family use, not exceeding one 
hundred dollars in value. Tenth, the bibles and other books used in a 



182 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

family, lettered grave stones, and one pew in a house of worship. 
Eleventh^ all lawyers, physicians and ministers of the gospel shall have 
the privilege of selecting such books as may be necessary in their profes- 
sion, in the place of other property herein allowed at their option ; that 
doctors of medicine in lieu of the property exempt from execution, 
may be allowed to select their medicines. In all cases of the sale of per- 
sonal property, the same shall be subject to execution against the pur- 
chaser on a judgment for the purchase price thereof, and shall in no case 
be exempt from such judgment and execution for the purchase price as 
between the vendor, his assignee, heir or legal representative and pur- 
chaser. « 

FENCES. 

All fields and inclosures shall be inclosed by hedge, or with a fence 
sufficiently close, composed of posts and rails, posts and palings, posts and 
planks, posts and wires, palisades or rails alone, laid up in the manner com- 
monly called a worm fence, or of turf with ditches on each side, or of 
stone or brick. 

All hedges shall be at least four feet high, and all fences composed of 
posts and rails, posts and palings, posts and wire, posts and planks or pal- 
isades shall be at least four and a half feet high; those composed of turf 
shall be at least four feet high and with ditches on either side, at least 
three feet wide at the top and three feet deep; and what is commonly 
called a worm fence shall be at least five feet high to the top of the rider, 
or if not ridered shall be five feet to the top of the top rail or pole and 
shall be locked with strong rails, poles or stakes; those composed of stone 
or brick shall be at least four and a half feet high. 

Wherever the fence of any owner of real estate now erected or con- 
structed, serves to enlose the lands of another, or which shall become a 
part of the fence enclosing the land of another, on demand made by ..the 
person owning such fence, such other person shall pay the owner one- 
half the value of so much thereof as serves to enclose his land; and upon 
such payment shall own an undivided half of such fence. 

Provided, The person thus benefitted shall have the option to build 
within eight months from date of such demand, a lawful fence half the 
distance along the line covered by the above mentioned fence. The 
demand shall be made in writing and served on the party interested, his 
agent or attorney, or left with some member of the family over fourteen 
years of age, at his usual place of abode. If the party notified fails to 
comply with the demand within the specified time, the party making the 
demand may, at his option, proceed to enforce the collection of one-half 
the value of such fence, or remove his fence without any other or further 
notice. 

Every person owning a part of a division fence, shall keep the same 



: in 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 183 

good repair, according to the requirements of the act, and upon neglect 
or refusal to do so, shall be liable in double damages to the party injured 
thereby. 

If the parties interested shall fail to agree as to the value of one-half 
of such fence, the owner of the fence may apply to a justice of the peace 
of the township, who shall, without delay, issue an order to three disinter- 
ested householders of the township, not of kin to either party, reciting the 
complaint, and requiring them to view the fence, estimate the value 
thereof, and make return under oath to the justice on the day named in 
the order. 

If the person thus assessed or charged with the value of one-half of 
any fence, shall neglect or refuse to pay over to the owner of such fence 
the amount so awarded, the same may be recovered before a justice of the 
peace or other court of competent jurisdiction. 

ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. 

The overseers of highways in each road district in each township, shall 
have care and superintendence of all highways and bridges therein, and 
it shall be their duty to have all highways and bridges kept in good repair, 
and to cause to be built all such bridges as public necessity may require, 
said bridges to be built b}' contract, let to the lowest responsible bidder, 
and to be paid for out of any money in the overseer's hands, or in the 
treasury for road or bridge purposes. But in no case shall the overseer* 
take such contract, either for himself or by his agent. 

It shall be the duty of the overseer of highways to name all residents 
of the district against whom a land or personal tax is assessed, giving 
them two days notice to work out the same upon the highways, and he 
shall receive such tax in labor from every able bodied man, or his or her 
substitute, at the rate of $1.50 per day, and in proportion for a less 
amount, provided that any person may pay such tax in money. The 
township board of directors shall have the power to assess upon all real 
estate and personal property in their township made taxable by law for 
state and county purposes, a sufficient tax to keep the roads and highways 
of the various road districts in their township in good repair, which tax 
shall be levied as follows: for every one mill tax upon the dollar levied 
upon real and personal property, as valued on the assessor's roll of the 
previous year, the township board of directors shall require one day's 
work of each person subject to work on roads and highways, and no 
more. 

SUPPORT OF THE POOR. 
Poor persons shall be relieved, maintained and supported by the county 
of which they are inhabitants. 

Aged, infirm, lame, blind, or sick persons who are unable to support 



184 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

themselves, and where there are no other persons required by law and 
able to maintain them, shall be deemed poor persons. 

No person shall be deemed an inhabitant within the meaning of this 
chapter, who has not resided for the space of twelve months next preced- 
ing the time of any order being made respecting such person in the county, 
or who shall have removed from another county for the purpose of impos- 
ing the burden or keeping such person on the county where he or she last 
resided for the time aforesaid. 

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. 

Every landlord shall have a lien on the crops grown on the demised 
premises in any year for the rent that shall accrue for such year; and such 
lien shall continue for eight months after such rent shall become due and 
payable, and no longer. When the demised premises or any portion 
thereof are used for the purpose of growing nursery stock, the lien shall 
exist and continue in such stock until the same shall have been removed 
from the premises and sold. 

No tenant for a term, not exceeding two years, or at will, or by suffer- 
ance, shall assign or transfer his term, or interest, or any part thereof to 
another, without the written assent of the landlord, or person holding 
under him. 

Either party may terminate a tenancy from year to year, by giving 
notice in writing of his intention to terminate the same, of not less than 
three months next before the end of the year. 

A tenancy at will, or by sufferance, or for less than one year, may be 
terminated by the person entitled to the possession, by giving one month's 
notice, in writing to the person in possession, requiring him to remove. 
All contracts or agreements for the leasing, renting, or occupation of stores, 
shops, houses, tenements, or other buildings in cities, towns, or villages/not 
made in writing, signed by the parties thereto, or their agents, shall be 
held and taken to be tenancies from month to month; and all such tenan- 
cies may be terminated by either party thereto, or his agent, giving to the 
other party or his agent one month's notice in writing, of his intention to 
terminate such tenancy. 

No notice to quit shall be necessary from or to a tenant whose time is 
to end at a certain time, or where by special agreement, notice is dis- 
pensed with. 

A landlord may recover a reasonable satisfaction for the use and occu- 
pation of any lands or tenements, held by any person under an agreement 
not made by deed. 

Property exempt from execution shall be also exempt from attachment 
for rent, except the crops grown on the demised premises on which the 
rent claimed is due. 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 185 

If any tenant for life or years, shall commit waste during his estate or 
term, of any thing belonging to the tenement so held, without special 
license in writing, so to do, he shall be subject to a civil action for such 
waste and shall lose the thing so wasted and pay treble the amount at 
which the waste shall be assessed. 

BILL OF SALE. 
A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party for a considera- 
tion to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The pur- 
chaser must take actual possession 'of the property, or the bill of sale 
must be acknowledged and recorded. 

COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. 

Know all men by these -presents, That I, David Franklin, of Lexington, 
Missouri, of the first part, for and in consideration of three hundred'dollars, 
to me in hand paid by Albert Brown, of the same place, of the second 
part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and by this 
instrument do convey unto the said Brown, party of the second part, his 
executors, administrators and assigns, my undivided half of forty acres of 
corn now growing on the farm of William Mason, in the township of Jackson, 
Lafayette county, Missouri; one pair of horses, twenty head of hogs, and six 
cows belonging to me and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and 
to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his heirs, executors, and 
assigns, forever. And I do for myself and legal representatives agree 
with the said party of the second part, and bis legal representatives, to 
warrant and defend the sale of the aforementioned property and chattels, 
unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, 
against all and every person whatsoever. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand this first day of 
June, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. 

David Franklin. 

BENEVOLENT, RELIGIOUS, AND EDUCATIONAL ASSOCI- 
ATIONS. 

Any lodge of Free Masons, or Odd Fellows, division of Sons of Tem- 
perance or any other association organized for benevolent or charitable 
purposes, or any library company, school, college, or other association, 
organized for the promotion of literature, science, or art, or any gymnastic 
or other association, organized for the purpose of promoting bodily or 
mental health, and all societies, organized for the purpose of promoting 
either of the objects above named, and for all similar purposes, by what- 
evername they may be known, consisting of not less than three persons, 
may be constituted and declared a body politic and corporate, with all the 
privileges, and subject to all the liabilities and restrictions contained in this 
act. Acts 1868, page 28. 



186 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

All associations incorporated under the provisions of the above law shall 
file a copy of all amendments to their articles of association, certified as 
such under their seal, with the clerk of the circuit court, within sixty days 
after their passage. 

Any number of persons, not less than three in number, may become an 
incorporated church, religious society, or congregation, by complying 
with the provisions of this chapter, except that it will be sufficient if the 
petition be signed by all the persons making the application, and when so 
incorporated, such persons and their ( associates and successors shall be 
known by the corporate name specified in the certificate of incorporation, 
and shall be entitled to all the privileges, and capable of exercising all the 
powers conferred, or authorized to be conferred by the constitution of this 
state upon such corporation. Acts 1871-2, P. 16, Sec. 1. 

Anv such corporation shall have power to raise money in any manner 
agreed upon in the articles of association. 

INTOXICATING LIQUORS. 

A dramshop-keeper is a person permitted by law to sell intoxicating 
liquors in any quantity not exceeding ten gallons. 

No person shall directly or indirectly sell intoxicating liquors in any 
quantity less than one gallon without taking out a license as a dramshop- 
keeper. 

Application for a license as a dramshop-keeper shall be made in writing 
to the county court, and shall state where the dramshop is to be kept, and 
if the court shall be of opinion that the applicant is a person of good 
character, the court may grant a license for six months. 

Any sale, gift or other disposition of intoxicating liquors made to any 
minor without the permission or consent herein required, or to any hab- 
itual drunkard, by any clerk, agent, or other person acting for any dram- 
shop-keeper, druggist, merchant, or other person, shall be deemed and 
taken to be as the act of such dramshop-keeper, druggist, merchant, or 
other person. 

Intoxicating liquors may be sold in any quantity not less than a quart 
at the place where made, but the maker or seller shall not permit or suffer 
the same to be drank at the place of sale, nor at any place under the 
control of either or both. Any person convicted of a violation of the 
provisions of this section shall be fined a sum not less than $40 nor more 
than $200. Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so con- 
strued as to affect the right of any person having a wine and beer house 
license to sell wine and beer in any quantity not exceeding ten gallons at 
any place. * 

Any dramshop-keeper, druggist, or merchant selling, giving away or 
otherwise disposing of any intoxicating liquors to any habitual drunkard, 






ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 187 

after such dramshop-keeper, druggist, or merchant shall have been noti- 
fied by the wife, father, mother, brother, sister, or guardian of such per- 
son not to sell, give away or furnish to such person any intoxicating 
liquors, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction 
thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less than $40 nor more than $200, 
and upon conviction of any dramshop-keeper it shall work a forfeiture of 
his license to keep a dramshop, and also debar him from again obtaining 
a license for that purpose. 

GENERAL WARRANTY DEED. 

This Indenture, made on the .... day of . . . . A. D. one thousand eight 

hundred and , by and between . . . . of . . . . part .... of the first part, and 

.... of the . . . . of . . . . , in the state of ... . part . . of the second part. 

Witnesseth, That the said part . . of the first part, in consideration of 
the sum of .... ^dollars, to ... . paid by the said part . . of the second 
part, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do . . by these pres- 
ents, grant, bargain, and sell, convey, and confirm, unto the said part . . of 
the second part, .... heirs and assigns, the following described lots, tracts, 
or parcels of land, lying, being and situated in the. . . .of. . . .and state of 

. . . ., to-wit: 

[Give description of property.] 

To have and to hold the premises aforesaid, with all and singular, the 
rights, privileges, appurtenances, immunities, and improvements thereto 
belonging, or in any wise appertaining unto the said part, .of the second 
part, and unto .... heirs and assigns, forever; the said hereby cov- 
enanting that.... will warrant and defend the title to the said premises 

unto the said part . . of the second part and unto heirs and assigns 

forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons whom- 
soever. 

In witness whereof, the said part, .of the first part ha. .hereunto set. . 
hand . . and seal . . the day and year first above written. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us. 

[seal] 

[seal] 

state of missouri, 



of ... . [ Be it remembered, that on this .... 

day of A. D. 18 , before the undersigned, a within and for the 

of and state of ... . personally came .... who are personally known 

to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the fore- 
going instrument of writing as parties thereto, and they acknowledged 
the same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. 
And the said .... being by me first made acquainted with the contents of 
said instrument, upon an examination separate and apart from .... hus- 
band , acknowledged that executed the same, and relinquishes 



188 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

dower, in the real estate therein mentioned, freely and without fear, 

compulsion or undue influence on the part of . . . . said husband. . . . ; and 

I certify that my term of office as a notary public will expire 18 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my 
official seal, at my office in ... . this day and year first above written. 



QUIT-CLAIM DEED. 

This indenture, made on the day of , A. D. one thousand eight 

hundred and , by and between , of the county of , and state of 

, part of the first part, and , of the county of , and state of 

, part of the second part, 

Witnesseth, That the said part of the first part, in consideration of the 

sum of Too dollars, to paid by the said part of the second part, 

the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do by these presents, 
remise, release, and forever quit-claim unto the said part of the second 
part, the following described lots, tracts, or parcels of land, lying, being 
and situate in the county of . . . ., and state of . . . ., to wit: [Give descrip- 
tion of propert}' - .] 

* [This deed of quit-claim being made in release of, and satisfaction for 
a certain deed dated the . . day of . . . ., 18 . . ; recorded in the recor- 
der's office, within and for the county of aforesaid, in deed book . . , 

at pages . . . .] 

To have and to hold the same, with all the rights, immunities, privileges 
and appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said part of the second 
part, and .... heirs and assigns, forever ; so that neither the said part 
of the first part nor .... heirs, nor any other person or persons for .... 

or in name or behalf, shall or will hereafter claim or demand any 

right or title to the aforesaid premises, or any part thereof, but they and 
every of them shall, by these presents, be excluded and forever barred. 

In witness whereof, That said part of the first part ha hereunto set 
hand and seal , the day and year first above written. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us. 

[seal] 

[seal] 

[Acknowledgment same as in General Warranty Deed.] 

MORTGAGE DEED. 

Know all men by these presents, that, of the county of , in the 

state of for and in consideration of the sum of dollars, *o the said 

in hand paid by .... of the county of in the state of ha . . 

* Omit this clause in case this deed is not made in release of some other instrument. 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 189 

granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do . . grant, bargain 

and sell, unto the said the following described .... situated in the 

county of in the state of . . . .that is to say: 

[Give description of property.] 
To have and to hold the property and premises hereby conveyed, with 
all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in 
anywise appertaining, unto said. . . .heirs and assigns forever; upon this 
express condition, whereas, the said .... on the .... day of .... A. D. one 
thousand eight hundred and .... made, executed and delivered to the said 
. . . .certain . . . .described as follows, to- wit: 

[Give description of notes, time of payment, etc.] 

Now, if the said .... executor or administrator, shall pay the sum di 
money specified in said .... and all the interest that may be due thereon, 

according to the tenor and effect of said then this conveyance shall be 

void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and virtue in law. 

In witness whereof, . . . . , the said grantor .... and mortgagor .... ha . . 

hereunto subscribed . . . .name .... and affixed .... seal this .... day of 

. .., A.D.18... 

[seal.] 

[seal.] 

[Acknowledgment same as General Warranty Deed.] 

CHATTEL MORTGAGE. 

Know all men by these presents, That of the. county of , and 

state of . . . . , in consideration of the sum of . . . . foo dollars, to ... . paid by 

.... of the county of . . . . and state of do sell and convey to said .... 

the following goods *and chattels, to-wit: 

[Here describe goods.] 

Warranted free of incumbrances, and against any adverse claims: 

Upon condition, That pay to the said the sum of Too dollars, 

and interest, agreeably to note . . dated on the day of , 18 . . , 

and made payable to the said as follows, to-wit : then this deed 

shall be void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and effect. 

The parties hereto agree That, until condition broken, said property 

may remain in possession of but after condition broken, the said .... 

may at pleasure take and remove the same, and may enter into any 

building or premises of the said .... for that purpose. 

Witness our hands and seals, this day of . . . A. D. 18. . 

Signed, sealed and delivered in 
presence of us. [seal.] 

. [seal.] 

State of Missouri, ) 
County of f ss * 

Be it remembered, That on the day of A. D. 18 . . , before the 

undersigned, a within and for the county aforesaid, personally came 



190 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

....who personally known to me to be the same person whose 

name subscribed to the foregoing chattel mortgage as part .... 

thereto, and acknowledged the same to be act and deed for the uses 

and purposes therein mentioned. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed 
my seal, at my office in .... in said county, the day and year afore- 
said. My term of office as notary public will expire on the . . . day of 
....18.. 

HOUSE LEASE. 
This article of agreement witnesseth, That .... ha . . this day rented to 

in the present condition thereof, the. . . .for the period of. . . .from 

the day 18. ., on the following terms and conditions, to-wit: 

For the use and rent thereof, the said .... hereby promise . . to pay said 

or to ... . order .... dollars, per .... for the whole time above stated, 

and to pay the same at the of each ; that will not 

sub-let or allow any other tenant to come in with or under. . . .without 

the written consent of said ; that will repair all injuries or dam- ' 

ages done to the premises by him or them during. . . .occupancy, or pay 

for the same; that all of property, whether subject to legal exemption 

or not, shall be bound, and subject to the payment of rents and damages 

thereof; that will take good care of the buildings and premises and 

keep them free from filth, from danger of fire or any nuisance and from 
all uses forbidden in any fire insurance policy issued thereon, .... and pro- 
tect, defend and indemnify the said .... from all damages .... and charges 
for such, that the houses and premises shall be kepf clean, fairly treated 
and left so; that in default of the payment of any. . . .installment of rent 
for .... day .. after the same becomes due,. ...will, at the request of the 
said .... quit and render to .... the peaceable possession thereof; but, for 
this cause, the obligation to pay shall not cease, and, finally at the end of 
.... term .... will surrender to said .... heirs or assigns, the peaceable 
possession of the said house and premises, with all the keys, bolts, latches 
and repairs, if any, in as good condition as ... . received the same, the 
usual wear and use and providential destruction or destruction by fire 
excepted. 

In witness whereof, the parties have set hand and seal to 

cop . . hereof to be retained by ... . 

Dated this day of 18.. 

[seal,.] 

MECHANICS' LIENS. 
Every mechanic or other person who shall do or perform any work or 
labor upon, or furnish any materials, fixtures, engine, boiler or machinery 
for any building, erection or improvements upon land, or for repairing the 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS, 191 

same under or by virtue of any contract with the owner or proprietor, or 
his agent, trustee, contractor or sub-contractor, shall be entitled to a lien 
upon such building, erection, or improvement, and upon the land belong- 
ing to such owner or proprietor on which the same are situated. The 
original contractor must within six months, and ever)- journeyman and 
day laborer within thirty days, and of every other person seeking to 
obtain the benefit of the provisions of this chapter, within four months 
after the indebtedness shall have accrued, file with the clerk of the cir- 
cuit court of the proper county, a just and true account of the demand due 
him or them, after all just credits have been given, which is to be a lien 
upon such building or improvement, and a true description of the property 
or so near as to identify the same upon which the lien is intended to apply, 
with the name of the owner or contractor, or both, if known to be the 
person filing the lien which shall in all cases be verified by the oath of 
himself or some credible person for him. 

Every person except the original contractor, who may wish to avail 
himself of the benefits of the provisions of this chapter, shall give ten days 
notice before filing of the lien as herein required, to the owner, owners, or 
agent, or either of them, that he or they hold a claim against such build- 
ing or improvements, setting forth the amount and from whom the same is 
due. 

All mechanics' lien holders shall stand on equal footing, without refer- 
ence to date of filing, and upon sale of property they shall take pro rata 
on the respective liens. 

We only attempt to give an outline of the law of mechanics' liens to aid 
the general business man. Should any complicated questions arise, it is 
best to consult an attorney in regard to the same. 

MECHANIC'S LIEN. 

Now, at this day, come and with a view to avail .... of the benefit 

of the statute relating to mechanics' liens, file . . the account below set 

forth for work and labor done, and materials furnished by under 

contract with upon, to and for the buildings and improvements 

described as follows, to- wit: 

(Give description of buildings.) 
and situated on the following described premises, to- wit: 

(Give description of the property upon which the building is erected.) 
said premise, buildings, and improvements, belonging to and being 

owned by which said account, the same being hereby filed, in order 

that it may constitute a lien upon the buildings, improvements, and prem- 
ises above described, is as follows: 

[Set the account out in full.] 

State of Missouri, county of . . . . , ss., being duly sworn, on his 

oath says that the foregoing is a just and true account of the demand due 



192 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

.... for work and labor done, and materials furnished by .... upon, to 
and for the buildings and improvements hereinbefore described, after all 
just credits have been given; that said work and labor were done, and 
said materials furnished upon, to and for said buildings and improvements 

by .... at the instance and request of, and under contract with that 

the foregoing description is a true description of the property upon, to and 
for which said materials were furnished, and said work and labor done, 
and to which this lien is intended to apply, or so near as to identify the 
same ; that said demand accrued within .... months prior to the filing of 

this lien, and that on the day of , 18 . . , and at least ten days 

prior to the filing of this lien .... gave notice to .... of his claim against 
the amount .thereof, from whom due, and of ... . intention to file a lien 
therefor; that said .... as affiant is informed and believes, the owner., 
of the above described premises, and the buildings and improvements 
thereon, which said premises, buildings, and improvements are intended 
to be charged with this lien. • 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 18 . . 



BILL OF SALE OF GOODS. 

Know all men by these presents, that of for and in considera- 
tion of the sum of dollars to . . in hand paid by of the 

receipt whereof . . do hereby acknowledge, by these presents do bargain 
and sell unto the said .... all the goods, household stuff, implements and 
furniture, and all other goods and chattels whatsoever mentioned in the 
schedule hereunto annexed: To have and to hold all and singular the 
said goods, household stuff, and furniture, and other premises above bar- 
gained and sold or intended so to be, to the said and . . assigns for- 
ever. And .... the said for and . . heirs, all and singular, the 

goods and chattels of whatever description, unto the said and . . 

assigns against the said and against all and every other person 

and persons whomsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend 
by these presents. Of all and singular which said goods, chattels, 
and property, .... the said have put the said in full pos- 
session by delivery to . ., the said one at the sealing and delivery 

of these presents, in the name of the whole premises hereby bargained 

and sold, or mentioned, or intended so to be unto . . , the said as 

aforesaid. 

In witness whereof, . . have hereunto set . . hand . . and affixed . . seal 
this day A. D. 18.. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of [l. s.] 



Note. — If the bill of sale is to be recorded in the county recorder's office, it must be 
acknowledged before some officer authorized- to take acknowledgment of deeds — other- 
wise not. 






abstract of missouri state laws. 193 

State of Missouri, ) 

Count}- of ) 

Be it remembered, that on this day of , A. D. 18. ., before the 

undersigned, a within and for the county of and state of Mis- 
souri, personally came .... who . . personally known to me to be the 
same person . . whose name . . subscribed to the foregoing instrument 
of writing, as part . . thereto, and acknowledged the same to be 
voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my 
official seal, at my office in .... the day and year above written. 



DEFINITION OF COMMERCIAL TERMS. 

$ means dollars, being a contraction of U. S., which was formerly 

placed before any denomination of money, and meant, as it means now, 
United States currency. 

£ means pounds, English monev. 

@ stands for at or to; ft for pounds, and bbl. for barrels', $ for per 
or by the. Thus, butter sells at 20 @ 30c $ ft, and flour at $8@12 $ bbl. 

° for per cent., and jj for number. 

May 1. Wheat seils at $1.20@$1.25, "seller June." Seller June 
means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering 
it at any time during the month of June. 

Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or 
stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has 
not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling " short" 
to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he mav buv and 
fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts" are called " bears." 

Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or 
shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, 
expecting to make a profit by the rise in prices. The "longs" are termed 
" bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to " toss " the prices 
upward as much as possible. 

ORDERS. 

Orders should be worded simply, thus: 
Mr. F. H. Coats: St. Louis, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Please pay to H. Birdsall twenty-five dollars, and charge to 

F. D. Silva. 

RECEIPTS. 
Receipts should always state when received and what for. thus: 
13 



194 ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 

$100. St. Louis, Sept. 15, 1876. 

Reeived of J. W. Davis, one hundred dollars, for services 
rendered in grading his lot in Sedalia, on account. 

Thomas Brady. 
If receipt is in full, it should be so stated. 

BILLS OF PURCHASE. 

W. N. Mason, Marshall, Missouri, Sept. 18, 1876. 

Bought of A. A. Graham. 

4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at $1.50 $6 00 

2 Seamless Sacks " 30 60 



Received payment, $6 60 

A. A. Graham. 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. 

An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain 
thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always 
reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder- 
standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must 
be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a 
reasonable consideration. 

GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. 

This agreement, made the second day of June, 1878, between John 
Jones, of Marshall, county of Saline, state of Missouri, of the first part, 
and Thomas Whitesides, of the same place, of the second part — 

WitnesSeth, That the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- 
ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and 
agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver in good 
and marketable condition, at the village of Slater, Missouri, during the month 
of November, of this year, one hundred tons of prairie hay, in the fol- 
lowing lots, and at the following specified times, namely: Twenty-five 
tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the 
fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and 
the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of November. 

And the said Thomas Whitsides, in consideration of the prompt fulfill- 
ment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, contracts 
to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five dollars per 
ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. 

In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is 
hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the 
other, one hundred dollars, as fixed and settled damages. 

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, the day and year 
first above written. John Jones. 

Thomas Whiteside. 



ABSTRACT OF MISSOURI STATE LAWS. 195 

AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. 

This agreement, made the first day of May, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and seventy-eight, between Reuben Stone, of Marshall, county of 
Saline, State of Missouri, part)'- of the first part, and George Barclay, of 
Sedalia, county- of Pettis, state of Missouri, party of the second part — 

Witnesseth, That said George Barclay agrees faithfully and diligently- 
to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for and during 
the space of one year from the date hereof, should both live such length of 
time, without absenting himself from his occupation; during which time he, 
the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of Marshall, will carefully and 
honestly attend, doing and performing all duties as clerk and salesman 
aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects as directed and desired by the 
said Stone. 

In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said Bar- 
clay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of one 
thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each upon 
the last day of each month : provided that all dues for days of absence 
from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum otherwise 
by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said Barclay. 
Witness our hands: Reuben Stone. 

George Barclay. 



Practical Rules for Every Day Use. 



How to find the gain or loss -per cent, when tlie cost and selling price are 
given. 

Rule. — Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which 

will be the gain or loss. 

Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost price; 
the result will be the gain or loss per cent. 

How to change gold into currency. 

Rule. — Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold. 

How to change currency into gold. 

Divide the amount of currency by the price of gold. 
. How to find each partner 's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership 
business. 

Rule. — Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quotient 
will be the gain or loss per cent. 

Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be each 
one's share of the gain or loss. 

How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. 

A short and simple met/iod for finding the net weighty or price of hogs t 
when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa. 

Note. — It is generally assumed that the gross weight of hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 
per cent, of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased by }£ or 25 per cent Of 
itself equals the gross weight. 

To find the net weight or gross -price. 

Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

To find the or oss weight or net price. 

Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) 

How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed. 

Rule. — Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, 
and point off one decimal place -the result will be the correct answer in 
bushels and tenths of a bushel. 

For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and point 
off one decimal place. 

How to find the contents of a corn-crib. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or 
by 4r^ ordinary method, and point off one decimal place — the result will 
be the answer in bushels. 

Note — In estimating corn in the ear, quality and the time it lias been cribbed must be 
taken into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the winter and spring. 
This rule generally holds good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is 
Bound and clean. 



PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE-, 1U7 

How to find the contents of a cistern or tank. 

Rule. — Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all in 
feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off one decimal 
jplace — the result will be the contents in barrels of 31f gallons. 

How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. 

Rule. — Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length (all 
in inches) in reversed order, so that its units will fall under the tens; 
multiply by short method, and this product again by 430; point oft one 
decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. 

How to measure boards. 

Rule. — Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and divide 
the product by 12 — the result will be the contents in square feet. 

How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc. 

Rule. — Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together, (the 
width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide the 
product by 12 — the result will be square feet. 

How to find the number of acres in a body of land. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width (in rods) and divide the pror 
duct by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a remain- 
der); the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. 

When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, add 
them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. 

How to find the nmnber of square yards in afioor or wall. 

Rule. — Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and divide 
the product by 9, the result will be square yards. 

How to find the number of bricks required in a building: 

Rule. — Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22£. 

The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height 
and thickness (in feet) together. 

Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches 
thick; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, 
but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. 

How to find the number of shingles required in a roof. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the 
shingles are exposed 4^ inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches . 

To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by 
twice the length of the rafters. 

To find the length of the rafters, at one-fourth pitch, multiply the 
width of the building by .56 (hundredths); at one-third pitch by .6 
(tenths); at two-fifths pitch, by .64 (hundredths); at one-half pitch, 
by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex 
to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken 
into consideration. 



198 PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE. 

Note. — By }£ or % pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be j^ or Jf 
the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters. 

How to reckon the cost of hay. 

Rule. — Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and 
remove the decimal point three places to the left. 

How to measure gram. 

Rule. — Level the grain; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic 
feet; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to 

the left. 

Note. — Exactness requires the addition, to every three hundred bushels, of one extra 
bushel. 

The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by 
multiplying the number of bushels by 8. 

If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2 to find the 
number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of ear 
corn to make 1 of shelled corn. 

Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. 

In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any 
given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the 
number of rods and acres. 

The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an 
ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the 
average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. 

To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to 
walk in a straight line; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line 
stright ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote; and, in walking, 
keep these objects constantly in line. 

Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- 
trivance^ may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard 
measure. 

Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the 
left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left 
arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. 

To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being 
given. 

Rule. — Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 

How to find the number of acres in any foot of land, the number of rods 
being given. 

Rule. — Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, 
and remove the decimal point two places to the left. 

The diameter being given, to find the circumference. 

Rule. — Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7. 

How to find the diameter when the circumference is given. 

Rule. — Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. 



PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE. 1H9 

To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick 
ness throughout will contain when squared. 

Rule. — Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by 
the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. 

General rule for measuring limber, to find the solid contents in feet. 

Rule. — Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then 
multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. 

To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. 

Rule. — Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches 
by twice the length in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1.10 to 1.15 
according to the thickness of the bark. 

Howard's new rule for commuting interest. 

Rule. — The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on , 
any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point 
two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point one place 
to the left ; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the 
left. 

Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. 

Note. — The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate; thus 3 per cent, per 

month, inverted, becomes % of a month, or ten days. 

When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, 
three ones. 

Rule for converting English into American currency. 

Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 
400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. 

U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. 

A township — 36 sections each a mile square. 
A section — 640 acres. 

A quarter section, half a mile square — 160 acres. 

An eight section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a 
mile wide — 80 acres. 
A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square — £0 acres. 

The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east 
corner. 

The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal 
points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The description of 
' a forty-acre lot wculd read: The south half of the west half of the 
south-west quarter of section 1, in township 24, north of range 7 west, 
or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short, and sometimes 
overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. 



200 



PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USB. 



SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 

7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 

25 links « 1 rod. 

4 rods " 1 chain. 

80 chains « 1 mile. 

Note. — A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. 

Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barleycorn; 
three of which made an inch. 

Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of 
measure is four inches — called a hand. 

In biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes 
used, which is a length of nine inches. 

The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. 
. The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. 

A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. 

A fathom is equal to 6 feet. 

A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking 
i nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 stat- 
ic miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said t* be a league. 

In cloth measure an aune is equal to 1} yards, or 45 inches. 

An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. 

A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. 

A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. 

HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. 

Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, 
should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic manner. 
For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a 
primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a 
simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well 
adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and 
laborers. 

1875. A. H. JACKSON. Dr. Cr. 



Jan. 


10 


it 


17 


Feb. 


4 


M 


4 


March 8 


« 


8 


u 


13 


« 


27 


April 


9 


n 


9 


May 


6 


i< 


24 



To 7 bushels wheat at $1.25 

By shoeing span of horses 

To 14 bushels oats at $ .45 

To 5 ft. butter at .25 

By new harrow 

By sharpening 2 plows 

By new double-tree 

To cow and calf 

To half ton of hay .....:. 

By cash 

By repairing corn-planter 

1 o one sow with pigs 

4|By cash, to balance account 



$ 8.75 

6.30 
1.25 



48.00 
6.25 



17.50 



2.50 



18.00 

.40 

2.25 



25.00 
4.75 



, 15.15 
$88-05|$88.05 



- 







W&& 



± ^i ;r "~ Hi 





£ 




C 




X 




f* 




M 








fe • 




fe So 




W <* 






r - 


^ 1 


> 


1 


a; 


z a 


« 


25 


^ 


x c 


P 


£ w 


EC 


< ffl 




^H k^ 


£ 


r>i r< 










5 


^ >H 




si E- 1 




^ »— 1 




55 ° 



^ 




u 





£ 


- 




<-~N 


r r 




o 






X 


•^ 




V 


— 










w 


c 


r 


ft, 




X 


fe 


a 



w 1? I 



x 



PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE. 



201 



1875. 



CASSA MASON. 



Dr. Cr. 



March 

March 

March 

May 

May 

June 

June 

Julv 

July 

Aug. 

Aug. 

Sept. 



Bv 3 day's labor 

To 2 shoats 

To 18 bushels corn 

By 1 months labor 

To cash 

By 8 days mowing 

To 50 lbs. flour 

To 27 lbs. meat 

By 9 days harvesting 

By 6 days labor 

To cash , 

To cash to balance account. 



.at $1.25 
.at 3.00 
. at .45 



at $1.50 



..at$ .10 
..at 2.00 
..at 1.50 



$ 6.00 
8.10 



10.00 



2.75 
2.70 



20.00 
18. r 20 



$ 67.75 



$ 3.75 

25.00 
12.00 



18.00 
9.00 



$67.75 



INTEREST TABLE. 

A Simplb Rule for Accurately Computing Interest at Ant Giybn Per Cent tor Ant Length 

op Time. 
Multiply the principal (amonnt of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this 
product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per 
cent of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. 

illustration. 



Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An 
interest month is 30 dayp; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 
multiplied.by .48 gives $2-^2.0000; 360 divided l>v 6 (the per cent of interest) gives 
60, and 222.0000 divided by 60 will give the exact interest, which is $3.70. « the 



Solution. 

$462.50 
.48 



370000 
185000 

$222.0000 
380 

420 
420 

~oo 
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 

12 units or things, 1 dozen . J 196 pounds, 1 barrel of flour. 1 24 sheets of paper, 1 quire. 
12> dozen, 1 gross. I 200 pounds, 1 barrel of pork. 20 quires of paper, 1 ream. 

SO things, 1 ecore. | 56 pounds, 1 firkin of butter. | 4 .. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8ft. long, 1 cord wood. 



14 



202 NAMES OF THE STATES AND THEIR SIGNIFICATION. 

NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR 

SIGNIFICATIONS. 

Virginia. — The oldest of the states, was so called in honor of Queen 
Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made 
his first attempt to colonize that region. 

Florida. — Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter 
Sunday, and called the country in commemoraticn of the day, which was 
the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers." 

Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time 
owned that section of the country. 

Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." 

Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River." 

Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for " smoky water." Its pre- 
fix was really arc, the French word for " bow." 

The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called " Carolana," 
after Charles the Ninth of France. 

* Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first 
established a colony there in 1732. 

Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the 
Mississippi which forms its western boundary. 

Kentucky is the Indian name for "at the head of the river." 

Ohio means " beautiful ; " Iowa, "drowsy ones;" Minnesota, "cloudy 
water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel." 

Illinois is derived from the Indian word Illini, men, and the French 
suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men." 

Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was 
•o styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. 

Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly 
applies to the river that flows through it. 

Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. 

Cortez named California. ♦ 

Massachusetts is the Indian for " the country around the great hills." 

Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying " Long River." 

Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of Eng- 
land. 

New York was named by the Duke of York. 

Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William 
Penn, its original owner. 

Delaware after Lord De la Ware. 

New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was gov- 
ernor of the island of Jersey, in the British channel. 

Maine was called after the province of Maine, in France, in compliment 
of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. 



SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. 203 

Vermont, from the French words vert mont, signifying green mountain. 

New Hampshire, from Hampshire county, in England. It was formerly 
called Laconia. 

The little state of Rhode Island owes its name to the island of Rhodes, 
in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble. 

Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that 
section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. 

SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUB- 
SCRIPTION. 

The business of -publishing books by subscription, having so often been 
brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations 
not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possi- 
ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such 
agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- 
lowing statement is made: 

A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by 
which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; 
the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book 
named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price 
named. The nature and character of the work is described by the pros- 
pectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- 
scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and 
not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely 
employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he usually paid a commission 
for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions 
upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. 
Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or 
modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the pros- 
pectus and sample, in order to bind the princi-ple, the subscriber should see 
that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his 
signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. 

All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any 
other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can 
not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done 
in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating sub- 
scribing should distinctly understand^ hat all talk before or after the sub- 
scription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract. 

Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can- 
vassers They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a pre- 
scribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the 
prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any 
other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be 
made in anything else but money. They cannot extend the time of payment 
beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of 
expenses incurred in their business. 

It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, 
before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- 
ment, would examine carefully what it is; if they cannot read themselves, 
call on some one disinterested who can- 



History of Lafayette County. 



PIONEER EVENTS. 

THE EVOLUTION OF THE COUNTY. 

The first election held in the territory of Missouri was in October, 1812, 
and it was then divided into five voting or representative precincts; but 
just how and when this sub-division originated, history does not relate. 
The district of St. Charles embraced all north of the Missouri river; the 
district of St. Louis embraced all south of the Missouri river, except the 
old settlements of St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid, on 
the Mississippi river; and therefore the territory now constituting Lafay- 
ette county, was at that time a part of what was called St. Louis parish or 
district. However, in governor Howard's proclamation, dated October 1, 
1812, calling this first election, the five civil districts are for the first time 
officially called counties. 

January 23, 1816, all that part of the state lying north and west of the 
Osage river on the south side of the Missouri, and west of Cedar creek, 
(opposite Jefferson City), and west of the dividing ridge between the 
streams that flow eastward into the Mississippi and those which flow south- 
ward into the Missouri, on the north side of that river, was organized 
under the name of Howard county. It was so named in honor of Gen. 
Benj. Howard, of Kentucky, who was appointed governor of this Terri- 
tory in 1810. The county seat was first located at Cole's Fort, just below 
the present site of Boonville; but in 1816 it was removed to old Franklin, 
opposite Boonville. 

In 1818, all that part of Howard county lying south of the Missouri 
river, and north and west of the Osage, was erected into a new county 
called Cooper, in honor of Capt. Sarshall Cooper, who, with ten others of 
the same name, his sons or relatives, were early settlers and Indian fight- 
ers in the " Boone's Lick country." (Capt. Cooper was killed in 1814.) 
The county seat was at Boonville. 

On November 16, 1820, the legislature again created a lot of new coun- 
ties; and all that portion of Cooper county lying west of the present east- 
ern boundary of Lafayette county, and between the Missouri river on the 
north and the Osage river on the south, was named Lillard county, after 
a 



206 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

James Lillard, who was the first member of the legislature from this 
locality, and introduced the bill to make the new counties. The county 
seat was fixed at Mount Vernon, a small settlement near the mouth of 
Tabo creek, about eight miles east of Lexington. Mr. Lillard subse- 
quently abandoned the new county which had received his name, and 
went back to his old home in Tennessee. The pioneer settlers were dis- 
pleased with this move, which seemed to cast some discredit on their 
chosen and favorite country. 

In April, 1825, Gen. Lafayette and his son George Washington Lafay- 
ette, visited St. Louis, the General being then sixty-eight years old, and 
were received with a magnificent ovation. The legislature of 1824-5 was 
still in session, and it signalized the great event by changing the name of 
Lillard county to that of Lafayette, in honor of the distinguished French- 
man who had so nobly aided our country in the revolutionary war. His 
name and great services to our national cause were fresh in the minds of 
the people; and the naming of this county after hfm was designed as a 
perpetual memorial of their reverence and gratitude. In February, 1823, 
the county seat of Lillard county had been moved from Mount Vernon to 
Lexington, so that when the name Lillard was dropped, and Lafayette 
substituted, Lexington was alreadv the county seat, and has remained 
so ever since. 

In 1826, December 15, Jackson county was organized, and its eastern 
boundary was the present west line of Lafayette county. And on Decem- 
ber 13, 1834, Johnson county was laid off by act of legislature, its northern 
line being the same as the south line of Lafayette county. This com- 
pleted the different steps and stages successively by which Lafayette 
county went through the process of political incubation and was hatched 
out into her present goodly plumage and fair proportions. 

At the present time the county is divided into eight civil townships, to- 
wit: Clay, Davis, Dover, Freedom, Lexington, Middleton, Sniabar and 
Washington. But during its various stages of development it has had 
Blackwater, Blue, Caw, Clearfork, Fort Osage, Springfield, and Tabo 
townships, which do not now exist within her borders. 

FIRST CIRCUIT COURT IN LILLARD COUNTY. 

The first court held in Lillard county was at Mount Vernon, February 
12, 1821. The county of Lillard was established by an act of the Legis 
lature passed November 16, 1820, and was included in the first judicia 
district. Gov. McNair appointed David Todd to be judge of this cir- 
cuit, and hence it was Judge Todd who held the first court at Moun 
Vernon, as above mentioned. The act creating Lillard county had desig 
nated Mount Vernon to be the county seat until the people of the county 
should be able to suit themselves better. The governor had likewis 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 207 

commissioned Hamilton R. Gamble to be prosecuting attorney of this 
court; Young Ewing, clerk, (commission dated Jan. 18, 1821); and Wm. 
R. Cole, sheriff, (commission dated Jan. 1, 1821). Hamilton R. Gamble, 
Peyton R. Hayden and John T. McKinney were admitted to practice as 
attorneys at the bar of this court, the first day of its existence. 

A grand jury, the first one in the county, was empaneled the same day, 
as follows: Wm. Lillard, foreman; John J. Heard, John Lillard, Wm. F. 
Simmons, Thomas Linville, Jesse Cox, James Bounds, Jr., David 
Jennings, Isaac Clark, Wm. Wallace, Christopher Mulky, Jacob Catron, 
John Bowman, George Parkerson, Thomas Hopper, James Linville, 
John Robison, Thomas Fristoe, Wm. Fox and Samuel Watson. Their 
first presentment was made in a short time, against John Salady, for tres- 
pass and assault and battery, "a true bill," etc. 

The next day, February 13, the court was opened at 10:15 o'clock, and 
the first case presented was an application for divorce, as follows : 
"Sarah Lillard, by David Jennings, her next friend, complainant, 
Against Jerry Lillard, defendant, 
In a petition for a divorce. 

This day came the complainant, by her counsel, and filed her petition, 
praying for a divorce from bed and board, and setting forth cruel and 
barbarous treatment so as to endanger her life, and indignities offered so 
as to render her situation intolerable, and compelling her to leave her hus- 
band," etc. 

But at the next term of the court, June 12, the case was on motion of 
the complainant discontinued. However, this same' day another divorce 
case was entered, to-wit: Jane Cooper, complainant, against Braxton 
Cooper, defendant. This case was heard October 10th, and Jane was 
granted a divorce. 

That first term of circuit court, in February, 1821, had one case in 
chancery, — Thomas Cox and Richard Scott vs. Wm. E. Aikman. And 
on the second day the grand jury brought in quite a list of presentments, 
as follows: The state of Missouri vs. John Young, for assault and battery; 
also against John Ingram and Solomon Catron, for the same offense, 
and against John Young, Jonathan Hicklin, Jacob Catron and James Lil- 
lard for an affray. The business of litigation continued to increase from 
term to term so that the court always had enough cases on the docket to 
keep it busy while in session. In fact, the records show that "those early 
times" were not any better in that respect than these later times. Indee , 
there was a great deal more litigation in proportion to the number of peo- 
ple than there is now. 

The July term, 1825, of the circuit court is entered as " a circuit court 
begun and held in the town of Lexington, and county of Lillard" etc. 
Its record occupies pages 11 to 15 of book No. 2. Then on page 16 of 
the same book occurs this entry: "A circuit court begun and held in the 



i 



208 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

court house in the town of Lexington, Lafayette county, on the 24th day 
of November," etc., (1825). There is no record, note or memoranda to 
show how, when or why the name of the county ceased to be Lillard and 
commenced to be Lafayette. It is common report that one of the first 
acts of our state legislature after Gen. Lafayette's visit to St. Louis in 
1825, was to change the name of Lillard county to Lafayette county; 
but this historian failed to find a copy of the act, or any document or other 
record giving the exact date or particulars of the change. It would cer- 
tainly seem as though the court record should have had some memoranda 
to account for and explain the change, so as to authenticate the proper 
dating and entitling of official papers, but nevertheless no such explana- 
tion appears, neither in the circuit court, county court or marriage records. 
In each case there is simply an abrupt, unexplained change of name from 
Lillard to Lafayette county. 

FIRST COURT IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

The first circuit court of Lafayette county was held at Lexington, 
November 24, 25, 1825. David Todd, judge; Markham Fristoe, sheriff; 
Young Ewing, clerk. 

The first grand jury of Lafayette county consisted of: Wm. Bowers, 
foreman; David James, Henry Rowland, Geo. Nevil, A. P. Patterson,. 
Spencer Estes, Thos. Marr, Isaac Clark, Pink Hudson, Wm. Clark,. 
Calvin Howe, Samuel Cox, Wm. Robertson, Jesse Demasters, Hiram 
Helm, David Norris, Jesse Nave, Frederick Sebril, Jesse Cox, and Henry 
Campbell. They received their charge, and retired for consultation; but, 
unlike their predecessors, the first grand jury of Lillard county, there was 
no business before them; and they were at once dismissed. 

David Todd continued to be judge of the circuit court, up to the Novem- 
ber term, 1830. But at the February term, 1831, J^hji^\_Ryiandjook 
his seat as judge of the court, under a commission signed by John Miller 
governor, January 18 , 1831. This Judge Ryland was the father of Judge 
John E. Ryland and Xenophon Ryland, Esq., prominent and well-known 
attorneys of Lexington at the present time. Judge Ryland occupied this 
bench continuously for eighteen years, then occupied a seat on the 
supreme bench of the state for eight years. He died September 10, 1 873> 

FIRST COUNTY COURT. 

The first thing that appears of record is the opening of the county court 
at the house of Samuel Weston* in the town of Mount Vernon, January 
2, 1821. John Stapp, John Whitsett and James Lillard, Sr., had been 
commissioned by Governor McNair, under date of St. Louis, December 
8, 1820, as justices of the county court of Lillard county. Henry Renick 



*Sarnuel Weston had been commissioned by the governor, November 22, 1820, as jus- 
tice of the peace for Tabbo township, then in Cooper county, but at this time in Lillard 
county. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 209 

Sr., was then justice of the peace for the county, and he administered the 
oath of office to the new justices. (He had been commissioned by the 
governor November 22, 1820, as justice of the peace for Sniabar town- 
ship, then in Cooper county, but now Lillard county.) Young Ewing 
was the first clerk of court; his bond was given for $1,200, with Wm. Y. 
C. Ewing and Joel Campbell, as securities. This was at the April term. 
The January term had done no business except to record the justices' com- 
missions aud swear them into office. 

The first case in this court was a motion of Abram McClelland, April 
23, 1821, for letters testamentary on the last will of Amasa Crain, 
deceased. Mr. McClelland, David Ward and Abel Owens entered into 
bond in the case. The will was proven by the oaths of John Tharp, and 
John Walker, and the record says: " Ordered, that Lilburn W. Boggs, 
[afterwards governor of the state, 1836 to 1840,] Richard Edmundson and 
Wm. E. Aikman, who being first sworn, do appraise all the slaves and 
all the personal estate to them produced of Amasa Crain, deceased, and 
make due return thereof according to law ." 

The same day Wm. Y. C. Ewing, Thomas Fristoe, Joseph Irwin, Abel 
Owens and Samuel Evans, were appointed commissioners of the school 
lands of the county; and it was "ordered, that all persons who have 
improved school lands shall be allowed to occupy the same so long as to 
reap the benefits of three crops, including those that have been made or 
received by said improver." 

April 24, 1821, John Dustin was appointed surveyor of Lillard county, 
he "having been examined in presence of the court, as to his qualifica- 
tions," etc. 

July 24, John Stapp was appointed to be president of the court. After 
this, the court proceeded to make up the first bill of county expenses, 
thus: 

To Adam Lightner, for furnishing the circuit court with houses 

two terms, 3 days each term, at $1.50 per day $ 9.00 

To Adam Lightner, for furnishing county court with houses two 

terms, at $1.25 per day, 3 days in all 3.75 

Markham Fristoe, deputy sheriff, as per account filed 5.50 

Markham Fristoe, deputy sheriff, as per account filed 1.00 

Wm. R. Cole, as per account filed 5.00 

Abner Graham, " " 1.00 

George W. Parkerson, " " 1-00 

Wm.F. Simmons, " " 2.00 

John Stapp, countv court justice, 4^- davs 9.00 

James Lillard, « " " 9.00 

John Whitsett, " " " 9.00 

Total $55.25 



210 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

October 23, 1821, Braxton Small was appointed deputy clerk of the 
county court. The first report of the tax collector was made on this same 
day, when there appeared to be due the county, from Markham Fristoe, 
the collector, the sum of $83.70. The court ordered him to pay $50 of it 
to the county treasurer within fifteen days, and the balance at the next 
term of court. 

March 12, 1822, John Duston, James Bounds, and James Lillard were 
bonded in the penal sum of $2,000, as commissioners to select the most 
suitable place whereon to erect a court house and jail, and to let contracts 
for the buildings. 

The first record, in regard to an election in the county, occurs under 
date of July 9, 1822. At this time, Solomon Cox, Legard Fine, and 
James Lillard, Jr., were appointed judges of an election to be held at 
Mount Vernon, in Tabbo township; and Julius Emmons, David Ward, 
Thomas Swift were appointed judges of an election to be held in Sniabar 
township, "at the place of preaching near Henry Renick's." 

At this election, which occurred in August, Jesse Hitchcock was elected 
constable for Sniabar township, and James Bounds, Jr., for Tabbo town- 
ship. 

It is noticeable, that in the earliest official county records Tabo is some- 
times spelled Ta Beau; and Sniabar is nearly always spelled Sny E. 
Bairre. [See Township History of Dover and Sniabar township, for 
origin of the names Tabo and Sniabar.] 

March 12, 1822, James Bounds, John Duston, and James Lillard were 
appointed commissioners to select a town site for the county seat, and let 
contracts for suitable buildings. They selected the site, and laid out the 
town of Lexington (old town). The contract to erect public buildings 
was let to Henry Renick, and on June 27, 1825, appears an account of 
$875.15 paid him on the job. There are small items of payments, for jail 
and court house, scattered along in the county records, for two or three 
years, so that it was never known just how much this building did cost. 
It was a poor job, anyway, as the facilities for obtaining suitable materials 
for such a structure were then very meagre. 

November 23, 1825, appears another entry of $467.41J, paid Renick on 
construction of court house; and the same day the building was accepted, 
and commissioners discharged. This building was occupied for county 
purposes a few years, but proved to be unfit and unsafe, and on July 24, 
1832, the county court " Ordered that James Fletcher be appointed com- 
missioner to sell the court-house of this county, except the rock founda- 
tion, as follows: The brick, in four parcels, and the shingles, planks, and 
timbers, in one lot, etc. The sale took place August 1. 

The county then rented accommodations for some years. The August 
term of court was held in Benedict Thomas' house. In 1835 Messrs. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 211 



Rollins & Thomas, completed a new fnree.-story building for the county. 
This was used until 1845, when the present classic and stately court 
house was erected in the new town of Lexington, by Hunter & Alford, 
contractors. The old building in old Lexington was eventually sold to 
the Baptist Female College, and used by that institution until the war of the 
rebellion. During the turmoil it was used by the United States troops as 
a hospital, and finally as a pest-house for small-pox cases; hence after 
the war it was not used again for a school house, or any other public 
purpose, but was torn down and sold as old brick. 

The transition from Lillard to Lafayette county is a little curious. The 
session of county court June 27, 1825, called it Lillard county. The 
session on July 11, makes its entry, " Lillard or Lafayette county." This 
occurs twice. Then the August term again uses Lillard county only. 
The November term does not once in any way name the county. The 
next term, February 6, 1826, says, " county of Lafayette, and so it has 
stood ever since. 

August 6, 1822, the court examined and adopted a county seal. It bore 
the figure of a plow, and words, " Missouri, Lillard county." 

FIRST ROADS, FERRIES, LICENSES, ETC. 

The first mention of a road in the count}' occurs under date of April 
24, 1821. Abner Graham was appointed overseer of the road leading 
from Fort Osage through Sniabar township, from opposite where James 
Connor then lived, to Fort Osage. He was required to keep the 
road in good repair, clear and smooth, twenty feet wide. At the same 
time James Young was appointed overseer of the road from Little Snia- 
bar to James Connor's. Wm. F. Simmons was appointed overseer of the 
road from the Tabbo Creek crossing near Mount Vernon, to the range 
line between ranges 26 and 27; and from this latter point Thos. Fristoe 
was appointed overseer westward to Little Sniabar Creek. George 
Parkerson was appointed for the road from Tabo Creek eastward 
through Mount Vernon to east end of Tabo township. 

On the same day Gilead Rupe, Markham Fristoe, Wm. Robertson, 
and Reuben Riggs were appointed commissioners to view the best and 
nearest route for a road leading from Jack's ferry to intersect the road lead- 
ing from Fort Osage to Mount Vernon. Fort Osage was near where the 
town of Sibley now stands, in Jackson county, and was the nearest post of 
U. S. soldiers, in case of an attack upon the settlement by Indians. 

At the same time also a license was issued to Adam Lightner to keep a 
ferry across Tabo Creek, for which he paid a tax of two dollars. The 
ferriage rates fixed by the court were: For one passenger, three cents; 
horse, three cents; cattle, three cents each; hogs or sheep, two cents 



212 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

each; carriage or cart, twenty-five cents; wagon and team, thirty-seven 
and a half cents. 

July 9 a license was granted to Robert Castles to retail merchandise in 
this county, for which privilege he paid $30 per year. This is the first 
license of the kind on record, and it is presumed he was the first mer- 
chant in the county. The location of his store is not named. 

July 23, 1821, license was granted to Thomas Stokely to keep a ferry 
across the Missouri River about three miles below Fort Osage, for which 
he had to give bonds to the amount of $2,000. Abel Owen was his 
bondsman. The rates fixed by court for this ferry were: Passenger, 
twelve and a half cents; man and horse, twenty-five cents; neat cattle, 
ten cents each ; hogs or sheep, three cents each ; carriages, thirty-seven 
and a half cents; carts, fifty cents; wagons, one dollar; lumber or 
goods not in vehicle, six cents per hundred weight. Mr. Stokely also 
procured the appointment of Abner Graham, James Hicklin, William 
Y. C. Ewing and Wm. Renick as commissioners to lay out "a road from 
the bridge on Fire Prairie creek to said Stokely's ferry on the Missouri 
river." 

There does not appear any record as to how or when or where Jack's 
ferry was established, but we learn from General Graham that it was at 
the original steamboat landing which afterwards became the foot of Com- 
mercial street of the city of Lexington, although now (1881) there is solid 
land for half a mile out from this old landing. 

July 23, Ira Bidwell, Benjamin Gooch, Jesse Demaster and Pink Hud- 
son were appointed to lay out a road, giving Jack's ferry a shorter connec- 
tion with the Ft. Osage road. Also Gilead Rupe, Richard Fristoe, John 
Allison, and John Young were appointed to lay out a road from Jack's 
ferry to the county line toward Revis salt works. 

July 24, Abel Owen and Henry Renick were appointed to lay off Snia- 
bar township into suituble and convenient road districts. And the same 
day a license was granted to Adam Lightner, to keep a tavern; for this 
license he paid $12 per year. The same day also Michael Ely was 
licensed to sell merchandise; this license cost $30 per year. 

August6, 1822, Alfred K. Stevens was granted a permit to build a ware- 
house on the Missouri river, on the northwest fractional quarter of section 
24, fractional township 51. This was for the storage and inspection of 
tobacco, and appears to have been the first commercial enterprise in the 
county. 

November 5, record is made of license issued to Abner Graham to 
retail wines and spirituous liquors; also to James Rath well for the same 
purpose — each paying $5 for six months' license. In August, 1823, a 
renewal of Rath well's license to sell liquors is recorded as "J. Rath well's 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 213 

ferry license," which seems to have been one of the popular jokes of that 
early day. Rathwell, it seems, had bought Stokeley's ferry. 

FIRST MARRIAGE. 

The first marriage record in the county is a curiosity, and we copy it 
" verbatim et spellaiim" etc : 

Missouri State 

Lillard county no ye to home it may concern that this 8 day of Febru- 
ary 1S21 was joined together in the holy estate of marimony James Kee- 
ney and Anney Ramsey by me 

Jonathan Keeney, G. M. 

[" G. M." stands for gospel minister.] 

During the same year, 1821, the following additional marriages occurred: 
February 23, George Shelby to Margaret Tunage, by Rev. Martin Trapp ; 
March 15, Wm. Cox to Sary Cantrel, by Rev. Martin Trapp; March 28, 
Wm. Furgusson to Polly Heard, by Samuel Weston, J. P.; March 15, 
Robert McAffee to Mary Gladden, by John Heard, J. P.; March 15, 
Wallace McAffee to Susanna Givens, by John J. Heard, J. P.; April 26, 
Walter Burril to Lydia Cox, by J. J. Heard, J. P. This was all in that 
year. 

A total of sixty-one marriages occurred in Lillard county, from the first 
one, February 8, 1821, till August 5, 1S25. But the first marriage 
recorded as occurring in Lafayette county, after the change from Lillard 
to Lafayette, was that of Nicholas Turner to Keziah McClure, by Abel 
Owens, J. P., July 19, 1825. There is some confusion in the records 
during the period of the change of name from Liliard to Lafayette county. 
The last marriage, as above noted, is given as occurring in Lafayette 
county, and yet on November 2, 1825, nearly four months later 1 , Young 
Ewing signs his name on the record as Clerk of Lillard circuit court. 
The July term of the circuit court was recorded as in Lillard county, but 
the November term is recorded as in Lafayette county. No record was 
made to explain this change of name. 

The actual first marriage within the present bounds of the county, was 
that of John Lovelady and Mary Cox, in 1818, before the county was 
organized, and hence does not appear on the record. [See article headed 
" History of Dover township." 

PREHISTORIC MAN IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Commencing on page 20 of this volume will be found a chapter on the 
general subject of the prehistoric or Moundbuilder race in Missouri. 
That chapter rambles all over the state for its data. This article is con- 
fined to such relics of those ancient people as we have been able to get 
knowledge of in Lafayette county. 

The writer hereof has identified the site of an ancient or Moundbuildei 
village near Lexington. It is on the north half of southeast quarter of. 



214 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

section 27, township 51, range 27; the land is known as the old Cromwell 
place, and is just across a ravine north from Judge A. S. Tutt's place. It 
was formerly cultivated as a corn field, but has lain fallow for three years 
past, the old house upon it being decayed and uninhabitable. There is a 
small orchard near the old house ruins. The ground here for five or six 
acres is dotted over with flint chips, bits of ancient pottery, and other 
relics of the Moundbuilder folks. The Lexington Intelligencer of June 25, 
1881, contained the following local item: 

Relics of the prehistoric people Or Moundbuilders, who inhabited Mis- 
souri before our modern Indians occupied it as their hunting grounds, 
have been found and published in about twenty different counties of Mis- 
souri, but Lafyette county has not received her share of celebrity in this 
line. 

Two of the Intelligencer office boys, Frank Lamborn and Ethan Allen, 
Jr., have specimens of flint arrow-heads and other curious things which 
they showed to Prof. Reid, of the Missouri historical company, and he 
listed and named them thus: 

Ethan's list: 1 flint drill, 3^ inches long — was used by the ancient peo- 
ple to drill their soapstone and pipestone pipes; also to make holes in other 
trinkets so as to string them; 4 flint arrow-heads of different sizes, shapes 
and colors; 1 flesher — an implement made of green-stone, and which was 
used as a hand wedge or peeler in the process of skinning animals, then 
as a flesher and rubber in preparing the skins so they would be soft and 
pliable. This tool weighs just a pound. It was also used to peel bark 
from trees. 

Frank's list consists of 25 arrow and javelin heads, varying from 1£ to 
5 inches in length. Five implements which archaeologists call shovels; 
these range from 3Jto 6^ inches long; 1 flesher; 1 stone ax — a very beau- 
tiful specimen, made of a kind of rock called syenite, a species of granite. 

Last Mondav evening the boys went with Prof. Reid out to a place 
they called "Indian Hill," east of the old Masonic college, and there they 
found great quantities of flint chips, broken arrow heads, fragments of 
ancient pottery with different styles of ornamentation represented on differ- 
ent pieces; and lastly a part of a tiny copper ax. * This last is supposed 
to have been the emblem of authority, kept or worn by the chief. The 
boys say they used to find pocketsfull of arrow-heads and such things 
there. The abundance of flint chips, broken pottery, etc., on the ground 
is said to show that a village was located there, and a manufactory of 
arrow-heads, flint knives, shovels, stone axes and pottery must have been 
kept there for some time. 

* On page 20 of this volume it is stated that "they had no knowledge of iron, or any art 
of smelting copper,' 1 '' etc. But in Switzler's history of Missouri, page 108, we find this pas- 
sage: "It has been stated, and often repeated, that they had no knowledge of smelting or 
casting metals, yet the recent discoveries in Wisconsin of implements of copper cast in molds 
— as well as the molds themselves, of various patterns, and wrought with much skill — prove that 
the age of metallurgical arts had dawned in that region, at least." This was written by A. 
J. Conant, of the St. Louis Academy of Sciences. The copper specimen found by Prof. 
Reid at Lexington looks as if it may have been molded, instead of hammered out from the 
virgin ore. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 215 

Col. John Reid also submitted for examination and name a round stone 
weighing one pound and seven and one-fourth ounces, which looked more 
like a petrified osage orange than anything else. But the professor says 
it is not a petrifaction at all, but is made from a flinty kind of rock called 
hornstone, and was used by the Mound builder people as a sort of pestle 
to work in a saucerlike cavity in another piece of hard stone which served 
as a mortar. With this rude apparatus they ground or mashed their 
parched corn and roasted acorns; they also used it to pulverize red and 
yellow ochre to make war-paint. 

Prof. Reid made several subsequent visits to the place in company with 
Prof. S. M. Sellers of the Wentworth male academy, Mr. Charles Teub- 
ner, George Wilson, and others, and each time found some additional 
relics, until he had fragments of pottery showing over thirty different 
styles of ornamentation, besides many plain pieces, and much variety in 
the quality and admixture of the clay in degrees of hardness, toughness* 
etc., and in shades of color. 

The following ancient mounds have been reported to this historian: Mr. 
George Wilson says that when the house was built where Prof. Quarles 
now lives, (a part of the Elizabeth Aull seminary property), two mounds 
were dug away in digging the cellar and foundation, and some human 
bones and unimportant relics were found. And there is one mound still 
remaining in the back yard at this place, just on the edge of the bluff, 
commanding a fine view of the river. 

Wm. H. Chiles, Esq., reports a group of five mounds on Brush creek 
bottom, where the old Lexington and Warrensburg road crossed the creek 
on Robert H. Smith's land in section 36, township 50, range 27. 

Ethan Allen, Esq., reports a mound in Wm. T. Hay's front yard, on 
southeast quarter of section 24, township 51, range 27; also, two mounds 
on Dr. Wilmot's place, northwest quarter of section 23. 

Charles Teubner reports two mounds on T. R. E. Harvey's land, south- 
east quarter of section 22, about a quarter of a mile northwesterly from 
the negro burying-ground, which is on the Robert Aull estate. These 
two mounds are perhaps twenty rods apart, and near the brow of the 
bluff, giving a grand outlook over the Missouri river and country beyond. 
One of the mounds is still six feet high, and has a modern grave on top, 
with a rude board fence around it. 

Dr. Sandford Smith reported a mound on section 5, township 50, range 
27; and in company with Dr. Smith and Mr. Charles Teubner, we visited 
it. The mound is on the Odell place. Old Mr. George Odell dug into 
it, from top to bottom, more than twenty years ago (it was before the war, 
anyway). Its extreme height was about six and a half or seven feet. A 
layer of loose stones had been laid on the ground and then the earth piled 
up over them. No wall or chamber was found, nor any relics except a 
few crumbly human bones. This mound is on the highest point of land 



216 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

in that vicinity, and from its top objects can be seen which are known to 
be twenty-five miles distant; hence, it is concluded that this was used by 
the ancient people as a signal tower, to guide their distant friends up or 
down the river by night, or give warning of approaching danger. It si 
on the brow of the river bluff. 

MOUND-BUILDER RELICS. 

Mr. Charles Teubner of Lexington has a collection of Moundbuilder 
relics, numbering about 2,300 specimens in flint, comprising arrow-heads, 
spear-heads, javelins, daggers, bird darts, drills, reamers, fish spears, shov- 
els, hoes, scrapers, knives or lances, and some forms the use of which is 
still undetermined. The materials represented in these specimens are 
flint, hornstone, agate, chert, chalcedony, slate, hematite, milky quartz, and 
vitreous or glassy quartz crystal. Among these are over 100 specimens 
known as bird darts, being perfectly wrought and finished arrow heads 
less than an inch long. These are supposed to have been designed 
especially for shooting small birds of brilliant plumage, the feathers of 
which were used by some tribes in making a very rich and gaudy kind 
of cloth. Specimens of this kind of cloth were found by the conquering 
Spaniards in Mexico which excelled iu princely gorgeousness the most 
costly silks, satins, velvets or laces ever seen in European courts. It was 
made in the same way that some good housewifes now-a-days make most 
elegant rugs, by knitting common store-twine and looping a small shred 
of silk fabric into each stitch, and when finished, shearing the silk ends 
all to even length. 

About 900 specimens of Mr. Teubner's collection are arranged on 
black oil cloth so as to form five life size figures as follows: 

No. 1 Indian with battle axe, in the act of striking a savage blow. This 
figure or chart is composed of 181 flint arrow and spear heads, so 
arranged as to depict the Indian physiognomy, costume, and action with 
great vigor and lifelikeness. 

No. 2. Indian with drawn bow and arrow, full life size, and the Indian's 
redness of face, even, is artistically represented by using red or coppery 
tinged flints for that part. This design is composed of 192 pieces. 

No. 3, A deer running. This is a companion-piece to No. 2, and con- 
tains 93 flints besides a small pair of deer horns. 

No. 4. Indian smoking the peace-pipe. This chart contains 147 flint 
specimens. 

No. 5. Indian squaw and pappoose. This is the masterpiece of all; it 
contains 296 flints, so exquisitely arranged that the woman's moccasins, 
frilled skirt, flowing hair, and nursing breast are perfectly represented; 
the child's figure is perfect, even every finger and toe being shown, and 
by a skillful use of the different shapes and colors of the arrow-heads, an 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 217 

expression of glee or laughter shows in the features of both mother and 
child as she stands tossing the little sucker as high as she can reach. 

The specimins of which these figures are composed were all collected 
in Gasconade and Franklin counties, Missouri, during the years 1873-74- 
75, by George H. King, Esq., now of Kansas City, who was then school 
commissioner of Gasconade county. He made the charts and had them 
displayed in the Missouri building at the Centennial Exhibition in Phila- 
delphia in 1876. Mr. Teubner afterwards bought them and added them 
to his Lexington collection, where, in addition to the above, he has speci- 
mens from Lafavette, Pettis, Montgomery, Warren, Boone, and Jackson 
counties in Missouri; and also from the States of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, 
Virginia, Maryland, and New York. Besides the flint specimens of 
Moundbuilder work, are grooved stone hammers and axes weighing from 
twelve ounces to over five pounds. Two of these are of hematite, a kind 
of brown iron ore almost as heavy and hard as real iron. Also stone bark 
peelers, skin dressers, corn pestles, paint cups, game discs, and various 
other tools or trinkets. There are supposed to be two or three other 
larger collections in the United States than this, but there is probably not 
another one equal to it in the variety of forms and material and the great 
number of exquisitelv finished specimens of the flint work. Mr. Teubner 
has been over twenty years making his collection and still pursues it. He 
is determined to give Lexington the honor of having both the largest and 
most varied collection in the United States except that of the Smithsonian 
Institution. Of course no private collection can compete with that. 

Mr. Jackson Cox, in his field in south half of section 2, township 48, 
range 28, Sniabar township, plowed up an ancient pipe of flattened ovoid 
form, with a groove and two creases worked around from the stem hole. 
The material is a heavy, compact, dirty-blue tinged variety of pipe-stone, 
and an excellent specimen. Mr. Geo. F. Maitland furnishes a fine speci- 
men of flint drill, 5f inches long and half-inch bore, such as the ancient 
people used to work with thumb and finger, for drilling into softer kinds 
of stone. He found it on Gen. Vaughan's farm. 

In connection with Mr. Teubner's specimens that were collected in 
Gasconade county, we ought to mention the fact that a stone about eight- 
een inches square, with a human footprint on each side, was found in his 
field by Mr. Wm. Miller, of Bay post-office, Gasconade county. [See 
page 14, of this work, for the St. Louis footprints in stone.] Mr. Miller 
sold this stone, together with other relics, to John P. Jones, Esq., of 
Keytesville, Chariton count} 7 , a well known writer on the early explora- 
tions of Missouri by the Spanish and French. [See Kansas City Review 
of Science, Nos. for May, June, July, August, 1881.] Mr. Jones thinks 
the footprints which he had were sculptures and not plastic moulds. He 
sent the stone to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington City. Mr. 



218 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Jones says this stone was reddish quartzite. He further writes: "Geo. S. 
Mepham, of St. Louis, had a footprint stone a few years sgo, its material 
being limestone. I saw one at Washington with two footprints on the 
same side. I also knew of one in Kansas." 



PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

COMPRISING GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, HYDROGRAPHY, METEOROLOGY 
GEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY. — GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

Lafayette is the second county east from the state line between Mis- 
souri and Kansas; has seven counties between it and the south line of the 
state, six east of it, and four north. Its area is 395,000 acres, one author- 
ity says; another says 393,000; and a third says 403,671 acres. The last 
man gives exact figures, as if he had measured it himself, so we conclude 
the other fellows were only "guessing at it." The 39th parallel of latitude 
crosses about midway of the county — almost through Higginsville; and 
its longitude is from 16^ to IT degrees west from Washington. Saline 
county adjoins on the east, Johnson county on the south, Jackson on the 
west, and Ray and Carroll across the Missouri river on the north. Its 
latitude is the same as Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Dover the capital of 
Delaware; its longitude corresponds with the boundary between Louisana 
and Texas, and with the cities of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mankato, Min- 
nesota. 

TOPOGRAPHY AND HYDROGRAPHY. 

We have not found any survey notes or other authentic data to show 
where is the highest or lowest point of land in Lafayette county. But an 
examination of the map shows that the county about Mount Hope and 
Odessa, in the east part of Sniabar township, is probably the highest land ; 
for streams rising in this vicinity flow off in every direction — north, south, 
east and west. Both forks of the Big Sni rise here, one flowing north- 
ward and the other westward; ^eadstreams of Davis creek flow from 
here eastward; and small tributaries of the Blackwater river in Johnson 
county rise here and flow southward. Hence a knob near Odessa, on 
Edward Lee's land, is supposed by some to be the highest point. On the 
other hand, the vicinage of Mayview likewise has streams flowing from it 
in nearly every direction, and some think that is the highest land. Others 
again claim that Lexington, or some hills in its vicinity are the highest, 
citing the fact that the coal beds dip from Lexington southward, and that 
the Lexington & St. Louis railroad runs a heavy down grade for five 
miles out of the city. ISTothing but an actual topographical survey can 
settle such a point; and we are informed that some such surveys will be 
made in this county by the government during this year and next. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 219 

The largest and longest stream in the county is Davis creek: which rises 
by several tributaries in the southern, western and central parts of Wash- 
ington township, and flows northeasterly between Freedom and Davis 
townships, then southeasterly in Saline county, where it empties into 
Blackwater river, that into the Lamine, and that into the Missouri in 
Cooper county a few miles above Boonville. The east and west forks of 
the Big Sni both rise in Sniabar township, the east fork flowing steadily 
northward, while the west fork makes a grand detour westward into Jack- 
son county, then back northeasterly to a junction with the east fork in 
Clay township, about three miles from its mouth near the village of Wel- 
lington. The Little Sni rises partly in Clay and partly in Washington 
townships, flows north, northwest, and north, and for three or four miles 
of its course forms the boundary between Lexington and Clay townships. 

Tabo creek is perhaps the next largest stream after the Big Sni; and 
has two considerable branches which rise in Washington township, two 
in Lexington township, and one in Dover township. The course of the 
main stream is steadily northward, and it forms the entire boundary line 
between Lexington and Dover townships. One of its branches rises in 
the southeast part of Lexington city, anal the Lexington & St. Louis rail- 
road follows it in a southeasterly direction, for advantage of grade, for a 
distance of over- five miles. 

Salt creek rises in the southwest part of Middleton township, with 
small headstreams flowing in from Davis and Dover. Its course is north 
and northeast, and then it flows away entirely across Saline county and 
empties into the Blackwater river, of which it is called the " Salt fork." 
Saline licks occur in many places along this stream, and this fact gave 
name to Saline county. Elm creek rises in southeast part of Middleton 
township, and flows northeasterly into Saline county and joins Salt cfeek. 
Panther creek rises in Freedom township, west of Concordia, and flows 
southeasterly into the Blackwater. 

The above are all the principal streams of the county, but there are a 
great many small tributaries with local or neighborhood names which do 
not appear on the maps. In Freedom township there is Mulky creek, 
Blackjack creek, and Peavine creek. In Middleton township there is 
Willow creek and Craig's branch. In Davis township there is an Elm 
branch, Bear branch, Merritt's branch, and Johnson's creek, all flowing 
southwardly into Davis creek. In Dover township there is Cottonwood 
creek. In Washington township, there are James creek, Honey creek, 
North and South forks of Davis creek, and Brush creek. In Clay town- 
ship there is Owl creek, and Helm's lake, the latter a remnant of t'ne 
ancient river bed. In Lexington township there are Graham's branch 
and Rupe's branch, at Lexington city, and the Garrison fork of Tabo 
creek. In Sniabar township there is Horseshoe creek. Clay, Lexington, 



220 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Dover, and Middleton townships front on the Missouri river as their 
northern boundaries. 

The river at the city of Lexington has very much changed its channel. 
The original landing for Jack's ferry and keel boats, before steamboats 
came much into use, was at or near the mouth of Rupe's branch. The 
backwater from the river set up into the branch above the stone bridge on 
the Wellington road, and there was a ledge of bare rocks in the bed of 
the branch just above the bridge, from which boys used to leap or plunge 
into deep water; it was a favorite swimming ground. When steamboats 
began to come, and Lexington grew to be a great center of trade, 
the steamboat landing was at the old ferry landing; and the city 
graded and paved Commercial street to make a good and mudless road- 
way from her main business center down to the wharf. But now the 
river has filled up its old channel with solid land, so that a steamboat to- 
day cannot land anywhere within half or three-quarters of a mile of the 
old place; Rupe's branch cove is all filled up, the ledge of rocks com- 
pletely covered, and Commerce street grown to weeds and chink-grass, 
though the paving still remains as a reminder of the " used-to-be." At 
low water, the steamboat and ferry landing are now far down the river, 
almost below the city. And what the old Missouri is going to do with it 
in the future no mortal can tell. 

Other steamboat landings in the county are at Napoleon, Berlin, Dover 
landing, and Waverly. 

RIVER SURVEYS AND SOUNDINGS. 

During the winter of 1879-80 the Burlington and Southwestern railroad 
company made a series of surveys and soundings to determine the feasi- 
bility of building a railroad bridge across the Missouri river at Lexington. 
Howard Dunn, a civil engineer of Lexington, was employed on this work, 
assisted by Wm. Tutt, Charles Morrison, Charles Montgomery and 
Charles H. Dunn, all Lexington boys. Some work was done by making 
soundings through the ice. Then Mr. Dunn was sent by the same com- 
pany to examine and report on the grades, curves and condition of roadbed 
of the old Lexington and Gulf railroad. After this, or about February 
18, 1880, the railroad company sent another engineer, Mr. Hurst, of Chili- 
cothe, to join Mr. Dunn in a further prosecution of the river-bed sound- 
ings and bank surveys, and this work was carried on from a point on the 
north bank considerably above the foot of pine street to a point on the 
south bank bluff, near Dr. Wilmot's place. The highest point taken on 
the bluff was just north of the old Masonic college, and was 167 feet 
above low-water mark. Fifteen different test soundings were made for 
bed-rock in the river, with the following results: 

No. 1. 950 feet down stream from west end of the old Anderson ware- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 221 

house at foot of Pine street, and 149 feet out from the river bank, bare 
rock was struck at 15.8 feet from the surface, the river being then 3£ feet 
above low-water gauge. This rock was drilled into 18 inches without 
going through, and was found to be a solid limestone ledge. 

No. 2. At same place, 291 feet from bank, the same bed-rock was found 
with 16.5 feet of water. 

No. 3. Same place, 396 feet from river bank, sand bottom was found 
at 21 feet depth of water. A two-inch gas-pipe was then sunk in the 
sand 46.7 feet without finding rock. 

No. 4. Same place, 492 feet from bank, water 12.5 feet deep; gas-pipe 
driven 52 feet into the sand of river bottom without finding rock.' 

Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 represented a line of soundings from shore 
to shore at a point 200 feet up-stream from Major Claget's coal mine. 
No. 15 was 200 feet out from the south shore, and at 21 feet depth of 
water the bedded limestone, same as Nos. 1 and 2, was found. But at all 
the other numbers on this line, at an average depth of 51 feet from the 
surface, there was found a reef of boulders and coarse gravel, with sand 
again below them. 

No. 9. This sounding was 500 feet up-stream from the line last men- 
tioned, and on the north side of the river, 50 feet back on the beach from 
the water's edge. The result was, they bored through 55 feet of sand 
and sandy loam, then 8 feet of gravel and shale, then 4 feet of slate and 
coal, then 13 feet of sand, without finding bed rock. The total depth 
bored at this point was 80.2 feet. 

No. 10. This test-point was 150 feet out in the river from the north 
shore line, and the water was 4.5 feet deep. At 21 feet below the water 
surface coal and sand was found; at 22 feet, gravel; at 27 to 46 feet, quick- 
sand; at 52 feet, gravel; at 94 feet, no bed-rock. Here the tube stuck 
fast, could not be got out, and is there yet. 

Whether the railroad company considered these results such as to war- 
rant them in ever building a railroad bridge at Lexington, no man know- 
eth; but at this writing (Oct. 1, 1881) there are many signs which seem 
to indicate that a bridge will sometime be built here, and that the Chicago, 
Burlington and Quincy railroad company will run its southwestern branch 
from Burlington, Iowa, by way of the old Lexington and Gulf grade 
toward Texas. 

In October, 1880, Mr. Dunn assisted in making water soundings for the 
government, from Wellington down to Lexington island, and the deepest 
water found was opposite the foot of Pine street, where it showed thirty- 
five feet depth of water below low-water oauge. 

A little above the old hemp warehouse on Pine street, in the angle of 
the bluff on the west side of the street, there is a heavy bed of rock facing 

B 



* 

fr 



222 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

the river, and in this rock is a plug of lead with a copper bolt in its center. 
This is called a government bench mark; the government surveyors have 
established a similar mark every ten miles along the banks of the Missour 
river, from Sioux City to its mouth. These form permanent fixed points 
from which to reckon all future topographical surveys, but do not seem to 
have any uniform reference to water level. 

WATER LEVELS AND FLOODS. 

A mark known as the St. Louis directrix, is the standard gauge from 
which all levels on the Missouri and Upper Mississippi rivers are reck- 
oned, and that mark is 372 feet above sea level. The government low 
water gauge-mark at Lexington is at an assumed elevation of 424.2 feet 
above the sea, but that is not certain; and a series of soundings made for 
the government by Mr. Dunn, of Lexington, on September 20, 1881, gave 
a depth of 19 feet 4 inches of water, below low water gauge, in the channel 
a little above Pine street; but there was known to be deeper water below 
this point. 

In 1844 occured the greatest flo od on record in the Missouri river. 
Another " high water" came in 1877, and another in 1881. The following 
is their record: 1844, 26.66 feet above Lexington low water gauge; 1877, 
17.75 feet above; 1881, 23.10 feet above. 

An old city survey reports the top of the curb stone in front of Aull's 
building, corner of North and Broadway streets, to be 190 feet above low 
water mark, and that is nearly the level of North or Main street of Lex- 
ington City. 

RIVER IMPROVEMENT AT LEXINGTON. 

From the annual report of U. S. chief engineers, 1880, Part II, page 
1409, we quote: "The rapid erasion of the left bank, in the bend just 
above Lexington, is allowing the whole river to move bodily down stream, 
and if not checked will soon destroy entirely the harbor and boat-landing 
at Lexington. The plan proposed contemplates the protection of caving 
banks by brush-mattress revetments, and the construction of floating 
dikes, designed and located so as to rectify the channel." 

In Part I, page 163, of same report, we find this: "With the funds 
appropriated by act of June 14, 1880, for improving the Missouri river at 
this locality (Lexington), it is proposed to commence the work by pro- 
tecting the banks where necessary with brush revetment, and rectifying 
the channel by floating brush dikes or other structure (wire mattress is 
being used, 1881,) designed to produce like effect, as far as the funds avail- 
able will allow." 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 223 

Amount appropriated by Act approved June 15, 1880 $15,000 

July 1, 1880, amount available _ . . . . 15,000 

Am't (estimated) required for completion of exixting project . 35,000 
Am't that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending 

June 30, 1882 35,000 

The above work was in progress during the summer of 1881, under 
immediate charge of E. C. Shankland, U. S. assistant-engineer. A steam 
hydraulic grading machine or boat was employed on the north bank of 
the river, to prepare the bank for the floating dykes and recumbent wire 
mattresses. This machine was kept at work steadily by two crews, five 
working from noon to midnight, and five from midnight till noon; then a 
cook, making eleven men in all, and all Lexington men except one. The 
survey and sounding party, in charge of Mr. Howard Dunn, of Lexing- 
ton, consisted of seven men, two flagmen on shore, three oarsmen, a lead- 
man, and a recorder in boat; and five of this party were Lexington men. 

METEOROLOGY. 

In the spring of 1877 Prof. Francis E. Knipher, of Washington Univer- 
sity, St. Louis, established a system of voluntary weather observing sta- 
tions throughout the state. It was purely a voluntary service, only 
engaged in by those who were willing to give time, labor, and care to it, 
from their love of science and their desire to secure to Missouri the prac- 
tical benefits of such observations. There were in Missouri at one time 
eighty of these stations, but in June, 1881, only forty-nine made any 
reports. In the state of Iowa there are two hundred similar volunteer 
weather stations. 

In December, 1877, Dr. J. B. Alexander, of Lexington, commenced his 
work as a member of the Missouri Volunteer Weather Bureau, making 
careful observations of wind, moisture, temperature, etc., three times 
each day, and at the end of each month reporting to Prof. Knipher in 
tabulated- form, the results of the month's daily record. This is one of 
the most unremitting and taxing kinds of public service that any man can 
engage in; it is fraught with the supremest interests of agriculture, com- 
merce, climatology, prevailing diseases, etc. Its devotees are self- 
sacrificing public benefactors, toiling gratuitously for the industrial and 
sanitary welfare of the state, for it is only by such observations, kept up 
through a long series of years, that the laws of climate and season can 
be learned, and their normal recurrences taken advantage of for the ben- 
efit of mankind. 

The following tables of observations made at Lexington, show a mar- 
velous amount of patient and painstaking labor, and were prepared by 
Dr. Alexander especially for this work, in order to their permanent pres- 



224 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



ervation; and any one can see that when similar records have been kept 
at forty or fifty different places throughout the state for ten, twenty, or 
thirty years successively, they must throw a vast deal of valuable light 
upon the problems of climate and season within our commonwealth. 

MEAN TEMPERATURE AND AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL FOR THE SEVERAL 
MONTHS AND SEASONS OF THE FOLLOWING YARS: 





1878. 


1879. 


1880. 


1881. 


Average 




c 




p. 




P. 




A 




a. 






a 


— 


a 


— 


B 


~ 


8 


s 


a 


~ 
















a> 








• 


H 


fa 


H 


fa 


H 


fa 


H 


fa 


H 


hi 




a 


a 


a 

as 


a 


a 

03 


a 


a 

os 


e 


S3 


a 






as 


0> 




0) 


93 




as 




as 




a 


W 


a 


K 


a 


tf 


a 


M 


£ 


as 




33 2 


I 34 


22 


1 05 * Q 


2 29 


16 8 


17 34 


• 1 7 8 


1.26 


February 


38.9 


3.57 


Sl.fi 


0.48 


35.3 


1 62 


22.6 


4 29 


37.2 


2.49 




50.0 
58.3 


2 58 
3.42 


45.8 
54 fi 


1.07 
1.94 


40.5 
54.5 


1.85 
2.15 


33.2 
47.5 


2.67 
2.12 


42.6 
53 7 


2 04 




2\41 


May ... 


61 R 


3 26 


68.5 
71.8 
76.5 
74 3 




67 8 


3 63 


66 5 


3.99 


66 1 


4.30 




70.3 
79. a 


2.77 
2.60 
1 20 


10 53 
6.89 
44 


71 4 
75.3 
74 9 


0.65 
3.7H 
5 14 


73.1 
76.5 

79 6 


5.94 
2 10 
2 24 


71 7 
76.9 

76 1 


4 97 




3 82 




79 


2.26 




69 1 


1 78 


63 2 


3 02 


62 5 


4 37 






64 9 


3.06 




55.8 


1.58 


59 n 


3.12 


49 7 


2.24 






54.8 


2.31 




45.9 


0.50 


41.7 


3.94 


27.9 


2 51 






3S.5 


2.32 




21.7 


4 00 


24.fi 


2.63 


21.7 


97 






27.8 


2.29 




38.5 


6.47 


24.7 


5.53 


33.0 


6.54 


20.4 


5.60 


29.2 


6.04 




56.8 
76 2 


9.26 
6.57 


56.3 
74.2 


•5 66 
17.86 


54 3 
72.9 


7 63 
9.49 


49.1 
76.4 


8.78 
10 28 


54.1 
74.9 


7.83 




11.06 




56.9 


3.86 


54.6 


10.08 


46.7 


9.12 






52.7 


7.69 


•Year 


55.3 


28.60 


52 8 


37.76 


51.7 


31 . 12 






53.3 


32 76 



♦This average is based upon four dry years. A more accurate averaee fiom a larger number of years 
would be much higher. 



DAYS OF RAIN, SNOW, THUNDER-STORMS DURING THE FOLLOWING YEARS: 





1878. 


1879. 


1*80. 


1881. 


Average. 




as as 


o . 

-.o 
« a 

am 


^2 

E-KZ) 


>> • 

as 

as as 


o . 

a 
■->o 

Ox 


3° 

E-<x> 


■a as 


44 

3i» 


u 

is 

Eh 03 


5 >■ 

'3 03 

xo 


o . 

■x £ 

Sen 


%4 

a E 
E-c» 


>> • 

33 03 


o . 

rC ft 

S-.0 

o-r, 


32 
E-iz> 




10 

n 

8 

7 

14 

10 

5 

6 

6 

5 

5 

8 

34 

29 

21 

16 

95 


5 
6 








1 
1 

8 
13 


2 
°1 


1 

1 

6 

6 
6 
1 
4 
2 
2 


2 
19 
11 
4 
36 


5 
5 
9 
9 
7 
12 
11 
5 
6 
7 
8 
6 

18 
25 
28 
21 
90 


3 
4 
1 








1 
1 

15 
1 



1 
m 




o 

8 
6 

12 
10 
5 
5 
3 
6 
2 

16 
27 
14 
58 


9 

3 

5 

6 

8 

7 

10 

11 

6 

4 

9 

7 

18 

19 

28 

19 

85 


1 
1 
2 







5 
4 
3 
2 

5 
13 


1 
2 
3 
6 
8 
6 
9 

10 
4 
2 
1 
1 
5 

17 

25 
7 

53 


8 
8 
11 
10 
13 
11 
5 
3 


5 
4 
5 
2 







1 
2 

e 

10 
7 
3 
2 


7 
8 
8 
11 
10 
8 
6 
6 
4 
7 

23 

27 
24 
19 
90 


4 
4 
3 







2 
4 

11 
2 

3 

14 


1 


March 


1 
4 


May 


7 
8 




8 


August 


6 
5 




4 
2 




2 


Winter 


23 
34 
19 


'is 




"*2 
15 
12 


1 
2 
17 




19 

8 


Year 








49 























HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



225 



CLEAR DAYS, CLOUDY DAYS AND DAYS WITHOUT SUNSHINE, DURING THE 

FOLLOWING YEARS: 







1878 






1879 






1880 






1881 




Avera 


?e. 


































00 
>> 


S3 

■a 


3 . 
O O 

- a 


00 


03 


.5 6 


s*> 


S3 

•a 


3 . 

- -j 
J3 3 


00 

>> 

33 


e>-. 

S3 

■a 


3 . 
O 0J 

si 3 


m 
>> 


>> 

S3 
•0 


3 . 
041 
■2 2 




T3 


>> 


Tt-S 


"O 


>> 


*'S 


•o 


>> 


■{?■* 


Q 


>» 




-o 


>> 


te^ 
















F< 












u 










a 


s] « 


S3 
1) 


O 


o3 oo 


S3 

a 


o 


f>3 


a> 


o 


>>3 
S3 *> 





O 


s»>3 
ss a> 




s 


o 


a 


o 


U 


a 


o 


o 


« 


U 


u 


a 


U 


u 


* 




22 


9 




12 


11 


5 


12 


7 


4 


5 


16 


6 


10 


9 


5 




7 


12 




9 


6 


1 


14 


2 





6 


12 


5 


9 


8 


2 




12 


8 




12 


4 


2 


7 


6 


1 


10 


6 


2 


10 


6 


2 


April 


15 


5 




12 


5 


1 


13 


3 





8 


9 


4 


12 


5 


2 


May 


7 
9 


8 
fi 




12 
19 


5 
3 


1 




11 

15 


2 
1 






6 
10 


6 







9 

18 


5 

3 


I) 









15 


1 




17 


2 





15 


1 





20 


1 





17 


2 







21 


1 




22 


1 





16 


3 





17 


2 





19 


2 







21 


2 




17 


2 


() 


18 


2 


1 








19 


V 





18 


2 




21 


3 





18 


5 


1 








17 


3 


1 




15 


4 




13 


6 


1 


10 


9 


8 








13 


6 


5 




5 
28 


11 
36 




13 

26 


13 

28 


5 
15 


13 
39 


10 
22 


9 
9 


"24 


32 


"20 


13 
29 


11 

29 


5 


Winter 


15 




34 


21 




36 


14 


4 


31 


11 


1 


24 


31 


6 


31 


19 


4 




45 
54 


8 
8 




48 
51 


6 

11 



1 


46 
46 


5 
16 




10 


47 







46 
50 


5 

12 





Year 


5 


157 


69 




169 


61 


16 


162 


51 


24 








162 


60 


90 









extremes of temperature observed during the years 1878, 1879, 

1880 and 1881. 



HIGH TEMPERATURE. 



1878. june. 
No. of days above 90° . .0 

JULY. 

12 94O0 

13 94®0 

15 95 = 

No. of days above 90° .13 
august. 

19 95=>0 

20 95 = 

21 94 = 5 

23 96 = 5 

24 97 = 

No. of davs above 90° .12 

SEPTEMBER. 

No of days above 90° . . .4 

1879. junk. 

9 94 = 5 

No. of days above 90= ..5 

JULY. 

11 93 = 5 



No of days above 90 = . . .7 

AUGUST. 

26 94 = 

27 94 = 5 

No. of days above 90= ..9 

1880. JUNE. 

11 93 = 5 

No, of days above 90= .'.5 

JULY. 

12 95 = 5 

13 96 = 

30 94 = 5 

No. ol days above 90 =.15 

AUGUST. 

14 .....97 = 5 

16 96 = 5 

17 97 = 

18 99 = 5 

19 100 = 

No. of days above 90 ° . . 15 



1881. JUNE. 

28 95 = 

29 95 = 

No. of days above 90 o ..11 

JULY. 

16 94 = 

7 94 = 5 

8 95 = 

9 : 97 = 5 

10 98 = 5 

11 97 = 5 

12 98 = 

16 94 = 

17 94C5 

20 9505 

No. of days above 90= ..14 

AUGUST. 

1 94 = 5 

3 98 = 5 

4 98 = 

5 100 = 



6 .96 = 

8 96 = 

9 100 = 5 

10 101O0 

11 103 = 

12 101O5 

16 98 = 

17 105 = 

24 99 = 5 

25 100 = 5 

6 102 = 

27 101=8 

28 ....97 = 5 

29 95 = 

No. of days above 90= .21 

SEPTEMBER. 

5 9405 

No. of days above 90= ..0 



LOW TEMPERATURE. 



WINTER OF 1877-8. 
DECEMBER 1877. 

No. of days below 32= ..8 
No. of days below zero..O 

JANUARY. 1878. 
No. of days below 32= .22 
No. of days below zero. .0 

FEBRUARY, 1879. 

No. of da) s below 32= .15 

No. of days below zeto.,0 

WINTER of 1878-9. 

DECEMBER. 1878. 

17 3 = above 

18 4 = 5 below 

19 4c0above 

22 2 = 5 below 

24 5o0 " 

25 4 = •• 

27 zero 

28 2 = above 

30 oOOi.bove 

No. of days below 32= ..28 

No. of days below zero.. 5 

JANUARY, 1879. 

2 15= below 

3 17= " 



|4 17 = 5 below 

|5 12 = " 

6 11 = " 

8 2 = above 

9 7 = below 

19 3 = 

No. of days below 32=. .25 
No. of days below zero. 7 

FEBRUAKY, 1879. 

13 4 = 0above 

14 3 = 

20 1°0 

No. of days below 32= 22 

march, 1879. 

No. of days below 32 "5 ..12 

winter of 1879-80. 

december. 1879. 

12 5 = above 

15 1=5 " 

84... 6 = 5 below 

25 11=0 '•• 

26 3 = 5 above 

No. of days below 32 : .27 
No. of days below zero. 2 

JANUARY, 1880. 

No. of days below 32= ..15 



No. of days below zero. 

FEBRUARY, 1880. 

No of days below 32= ..21 

WINTER OF 1880-1. 
OCTOBER. 1880 

No. of days below 32 = . .6 

NOVEMBER. 1880. 

18 3 = 5 above 

19... : 5 = " 

22 4 = •• 

No of days below 32= . 22 

DECEMBER, 1880. 

5 1=0 above 

6 3 = 4 below 

7 2° 5 above 

3 = 5 " 

27 3 = 0below 

28 9 = » 

39 18 = " 

30 6 = » 

31 5 = '• 

No. of days below 32= .29 
No. of days below zero 6 

JANUARY, 1881. 

3 3 = below 

4 2 = 0ab&ve 



3°5beiow 

4 = above 

7 = below 

12 = 0below 

3 = 5 above 

13 = 5 below 

= 5 above 

2 = 5 " 

2 = 5 «' 

3 = 5 " 

. of days below 32= .31 
. oidays below zero.. 5 

FEBRUARY. 1881. 

2 = 5 above 

1 = 5 " 

8°0below 

1 = 5 above 

3 = " 

5 = " 

of days below 32 = . . 26 
of days below zero. 1 

march, 1881. 
of days below 32= .27 

APRIL, 1881. 
of days below 32= 11 



226 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

PREVAILING WINDS. 

During a period of four years, observations, amounting to 4,077 in num- 
ber, gave the following result as to relative frequency of direction ot the 
winds: 

TIMES. TIMES. TIMES. 

South 1,158 North 652 Southwest 570 

West 457 East 410 Northeast 300 

Southeast 235 Northwest 225 Calm 70 

NOTABLE WEATHER ITEMS. 

A few points of interest we have gathered from memoranda, kept by 
Mr. George Venable. January 29, 1873, at eight o'clock in the morning, 
the thermometer, at Grimes & Venable's jewelry store, showed 24 ° 
below zero. During the winter of 1875-6, no ice was put up in Lexing- 
ton; the river did not close at all; the steamboats ran all winter; and 
it was the mildest winter that had occurred for thirty years. December 
12 and 13, 1878, snow fell continuously for twenty hours, and then meas- 
ured thirty-three inches deep. Uncle George Houx said it was the deep- 
est snow that had been in Missouri for sixty years. During the winter of 
1880-1, the river closed December 29, and remained icebound until Feb- 
ruary 7, a period of forty-one days. It then remained open seven days, 
but on the night of February 15 it froze up again, and remained so until 
February 26. 

GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTY. 

Dr. Swallow was born in Buckfield, Oxford county, Maine, in 1817, 
and traces his ancestry back to a Norman French family named Sevallieu, 
whose chief marched with William the Conqueror into England. One 
branch of the family afterward emigrated from France to New Orleans, 
while another branch came from old England to New England; and from 
this latter stock Prof. Swallow is descended. His father was a farmer and 
mechanic. Very early in life, young George took a deep interest in the 
then new and mysterious science of geology. In 1843, he graduated at 
Bowdoin College with high honors, and was immediately appointed lec- 
turer on botany, in his alma mater. In 1848 he obtained aid from the 
state of Maine, and established an agricultural school at Hampden, Maine. 
In 1850 he was elected professor of chemistry and geology in the Univer- 
sity of Missouri, and in 1853 was appointed state geologist — the first one 
Missouri ever had. His first official report was published by the state, in 
1855. He first determined, located, and correctly mapped the boundaries 
of the geological formations of Missouri, and their mineral contents, as 
published in his reports, and in Campbell's Atlas of Missouri— St. Louis, 
1873 — a work which has been followed by later investigators, in working 
out the minor details of Missouri's geology. During the war-time, the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



227 



business of the State University and the geological survey were so much 
broken up, that, in 1865, Prof. Swallow accepted an appointment as state 
geologist of Kansas, and continued in that work two years. He had pre- 
viously, in 1858, discovered and determined rocks in Kansas, belonging to the 
Permian group of geological series. This was the first time that rocks of 
this age were shown to exist in America ; and this discovery by Prof. Swal- 
low, together with his reports on the geology of Missouri and Kansas, and 
papers read before the American Association, gave him a high rank and 
honorable recognition among the learned societies and savans of America 
and Europe. 




GEORGE CLINTON SWALLOW, M. D.,LL. D., 

Professor of Geology and Agriculture in the State University of Missouri, and Dean of the 

State Agricultural College. 

In 1870 the University of Missouri was enlarged, reconstructed and 
reorganized on the true university plan — with co-ordinate schools or col- 
leges of literature, science, art, law, medicine, mines and agriculture. Dr. 
Swallow was appointed to the chair of natural history and agriculture 
and made dean of the agricultural college, which position he still holds. 



228 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

For nearly thirty years past he has been a working and leading member 
of the agricultural and horticultural societies of the state, their very exist- 
ence having grown out of his urgent and eloquent advocacy of such 
organizations as early as 1852. He has also been an active member of 
the "American association for the advancement of science," and has taken 
an honored and leading part in many of its profoundest discussions. He 
has always been a staunch opponent of " Darwinism," or the materialistic 
phase of the doctrine of evolution. His most persistent and useful work 
is, perhaps, his study and classification of Missouri soils as shown by his 
numerous publications on their chemical and physical properties, and the 
best modes of culture for the staple crops of the Mississippi valley. [See 
page 70 and following pages.] 

ROCKS, COAL, FOSSILS, ETC. 

In Prof. Swallow's geological map of Missouri, Lafayette county is all 
included in what he marks as the " coal measures," or upper carboniferous 
formation, except some strips of alluvial bottom lands along the Missouri 
river; these bottom lands he marks as "quarternary " — but other authori- 
ties would further subdivide and class them as "recent " formations, (see 
geological chart on page 67) because they are the same sort of formations 
as are now being made every year by the Missouri and other rivers. By 
referring to the chart the order of superposition of the different geolog- 
ical formations will be readily seen. Lafayette county bluffs show the 
coal-measures subdivision of the carboniferous age; then there is an 
absence of several succeeding formations, to- wit: Peruvian, Triassic, 
Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary; but the first division of the quarter- 
nary is found — a layer of sand and gravel, with occasional granite boul- 
ders from the azoic rocks of Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado. These 
are the drift materials of the glacial epoch ; and upon them is deposited the 
" bluff' formation," as Prof. Swallow calls it, but which is called loess by 
most other writers. The manner of production of this " bluff' formation " 
will be found explained on page 80, and this is the body soil or clay at the 
top of the geological formations all over Lafayette county, except the 
recent bottom lands or flood plains of the rivers and creeks, and the out- 
crop of other formations in the river bluffs and on the banks of streams. 

The writer of this history learned from some former pupils of the Eliz- 
abeth Aull Seminary that Miss Emma G. Wilber. a long time favorite 
teacher there, used to take her pupils out on geological excursions; and 
also have them bring in any specimens which they might find, and which 
she would explain to them individually or in class. And Miss Wilber hav- 
ing removed to Englewood, Illinois, we wrote to her, requesting a sketch 
of some of her geological excursions with her classes, and notes of any 
rare specimens found. Accordingly, the lady wrote us- in reply, under 
date of June 23, 1881: 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 229 

"My pupils overrate me if they take enthusiasm and interest, and a lit- 
tle imperfect book-learning, as comprehensive and accurate knowledge. 
In teaching, I have but attempted to give them a glimpse into the beauties 
and wonders of the boundless regions of Natural Science, and to awaken 
in them a desire to go in and by patient study to view for themselves. 

"Bluffs, stone ledges, water and ripple marks, and the small shells that 
are so thickly imbedded in the shales in the ravines, mean much to girls 
who are taking first lessons in observation, but mean nothing to men of 
mature study, except that to the latter even little things are of value in 
making estimations. I found, not far from the stone bridge a large gran- 
ite boulder with striae upon it, and an injected vein of coarse granite. I 
do regard that as a specimen of value in a geological cabinet, and I had it 
taken to the Elizabeth Aull Seminary, where it remains. Beyond, and 
on the hill, I found a concretion resembling a petrified turtle, which is also 
now at the Seminary; and many small shells, besides two or three uni- 
valves, large and well preserved." 

The granite boulder above referred to, with "striae" or glacial 
scratches upon it, is indeed a very interesting relic. The original bed or 
ledge from which it was broken must have been far to the north-west; 
and the scratches upon it would show that it was once embedded in the 
bottom of a glacier, or possibly a iceberg, and had ground along upon 
bed rocks as hard or harder than itself, thus leaving scratches or grooves 
upon it to tell the story of how it came to Lafayette county during the 
glacial epoch of the geological calendar. The "concretion resembling a 
petrified turtle," which she refers to is a fine and valuable specimen, but 
it is of mineral origin (sometimes called "septaria"), and not a fossil or 
petrification. In closing her modest and ladylike coummunication, Miss 
Wilber says: "Mr. George Wilson, to whom I have referred many ques- 
tions, and Dr. Alexander, are so able in expression and so well informed 
with regard to geology and kindred subjects, that even were I a very 
great deal wiser, I could add nothing to what they can say." 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS. 

The first official geological work ever done in Missouri was by David 
Dale Owen, who was from 1847 to 1852, the United States geologist. In 
1852, Lippincott, Grambo & Co., of Philadelphia, published Dr. Owen's 
elaborate report of his geological surveys in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minne- 
sota, and a part of Nebraska. Missouri is not mentioned in the title page, 
but the text and accompanying maps show that he surveyed the Missouri 
river from Sioux City to its mouth. His map of the Missouri river notes 
geological sections taken from the bluffs on the north side opposite Napo- 
leon and Wellington in this county, and on the south side at Lexington 
and again fourteen miles below. These are undoubtedly the first geolog- 
ical sections ever made in Lafayette county, but they are merely general- 
ized and not given in detail, their only purpose being to show the relative 
position of the coal and any other valuable minerals or any good rock for' 



230 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

industrial uses. The Lexington section gives, from top downward, Chae- 
tetes limestone, [chaetetes is a fossil coral], then shale, then coal 20 inches, 
then indurated slaty clay, then limestone, the river bedrock. Thickness 
of beds is not given except for coal. On this map he notes that there are 
"heavy beds of cannel coal back in the bluffs, some 200 to 300 feet above 
the Missouri, on both sides of the river." In the introduction to his great 
work, Prof. Owen says: "The thickest vein of coal t detected in Iowa does 
not exceed from four to five feet ; while in Missouri some reach the thick- 
ness of twenty feet and upwards." These quotations were written in 
1851, just thirty years ago, and were based purely on geological observa- 
tions and theories, for no such mines had then been worked. Coal beds 
of such thickness do not appear to have been yet found in Lafayette 
county; but the "History of Saline County," published this year (1881), 
by the Missouri Historical Company, says: 

Township 49 and range 19, lying witlun the township of Arrow Rock, 
contains, perhaps, the richest deposit of coal in the county. The stratum 
of bituminous coal in this section varies from two to twenty feet in thick- 
ness, of the very finest quality of coal, and is interspersed in numerous 
places with huge -pockets of cannel coal of a quality equalling the famous 
cannel coal of Kentucky. These pockets often present a face of from 
thirty to forty feet of coal. In this region is the famous cannel coal mine 
on the farm of the late Gov. C. F. Jackson, besides numerous others, 
nearly all of them of great thickness, from ten to thirty feet — of limited 
extent, and most of them reposing on the lower carboniferous rocks. 
South of Blackwater there is much the same coal deposit as that in the 
region just described. Cannel pockets are also here, as is proved by 
those found on the farm of the late C. G. Clark, now worked by Mr. 
Laner. Coal has also been found along the northern edge of the county 
near Miami, in township 52, ranges 19 and 21. 

From Prof. Owen's work, page 137, we again quote: "The first work- 
able bed of coal which I encountered in my descent of the Missouri river, 
was at Wellington. It is from twelve to fourteen inches thick, and lies a 
few feet above the bed of the river. * * . The bed of gray limestone 
which covers the principal coal-seam at Wellington, containing choetetes 
capellaries [a species of fossil coal called choetetes milleporaceous by later 
writers], occupies the same relative position over the coal at Lexington, 
but here it lies at a greater elevation above the river — fifty feet. One to 
two miles below Lexington, the coal and chaetetes limestone are seen on 
the right bank of the river, forty-five feet above the water level. * * . At 
the bold promontory on the right shore, fourteen miles below Lexington, 
heavy beds of sandstone from fifteen to. twenty feet in thickness, extend 
down to the river." 

The above are a few of the main points of public interest, as relates to 
Lafayette county, which were developed by that first geological survey, 
thirty years ago. The first state geologist was Professor G. C. Swallow, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 231 

who was appointed April 12, 1853. He published annual reports of 
progress in 1854, 1857, 1859 and 1861. In 1870, Albert D. Hazer was 
appointed state geologist; in 1871, Raphael Pumpelly took the position, 
and his report was published in 1873 by Julius Bien of New York. The 
most useful service that any of the geological surveys has rendered to 
Lafayette county will be found in Prof. Pumpelly's work, pages 40 to 59 ; also, 
pages 136, 193, 421, and several other places of incidental mention. Those 
speciallv interested in mining coal or quarrying stone in this county should 
study that work. We can only give here a few gleanings of popular 
interest. 

In going from the east line of Lafayette county to Lexington, we pass 
in succession from the lower to the middle coal measures. At Henry 
Franke's mine, one and a half miles east of Concordia, or about two miles 
from the eastern and three miles from the southern county line, the follow- 
ing geological section was noted, belonging to the lower coal measures: 

KIND OF FORMATION. FT. IN. 

Earthly slope, bluff or loess 24 

Sandstone 2 

Pyritiferous limestone 1 2 

Slate, enclosing pyritiferous concretions 5 6 

Hard, dull, splintery, semi-bituminous, slaty cannel coal 3 

Bituminous coal 1 8 

Slate and coal . . ; 2 

Fire clay 2 6 

Clay and sandstones 

A coarse, generally thick bedded, brown or burl' sandstone, filled with 
small particles of mica, is found occupying the top of the lower coal 
series. It is seen near Aullville, on Gen. J. O. Shelby's land. The next 
place where it was observed, was on the McCausland farm,* two miles 
north of Higginsville. On this farm occur outcrops of bituminous sand- 
stone, and borings were made to a depth of 800 feet for oil, but without 
success. Prof. Swallow made a geological section on this farm thus: 

Buff and brown marls and clay 5 to 50 feet. 

Blue and brown sandy shales 10 to 50 " 

Bluish gray and brown sandstone, the oil stone 20 to 50 " 

Blue and brown sandy shales 3 to 50 " 

This oil stone on the McCausland farm is usually so saturated that it 
shows plainly on fresh fracture, and will burn well in the fire. The petro- 
leum is found as solid asphaltum, breaking with a shiny fracture, as a 
dark, viscid fluid like tar, and as thin as amber-colored oil. Prof. Broad- 
head says of this oil rock that he regards it as of the same age as the 
Berlin sandstone, and that above the mouth of the Tabo, which would go 

*The McCausland farm included parts of sections 25 and 36, township 50, range 26, and 
sections 30 and 31, range 25. 



232 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

to prove that there is a northerly dip of about fifty feet in nine miles. In 
its northern extension this lower coal-measure sandstone crops out at vari- 
ous points, low in the bluffs on the Missouri river, from the east line of 
Lafayette county to the mouth of Tabo creek. The Berlin sandstone, 
and that of the McCausland farm, and that at Warrensburg, may all be 
considered of the same geological age; but only on the McCausland farm 
was it observed to contain petroleum. 

In Prof. Pumpelly's volume there are printed at least twenty-seven geo- 
logical sections from different places in Lafayette county. We only aim 
to give such information as may be of interest to the general reader. The 
geological section at Franke's coal mines, as given above, was taken in 
1872, and represents the lower coal measures. The following section was 
obtained in June, 1881, specially for this History of Lafayette County, at 
the air-shaft of the Lexington and Kansas City Coal Company's works, 
about a mile west of Lexington City; workmen were then engaged in 
sinking the air shaft, and their measurements were mainly relied upon. 
This section represents the upper coal measures, and its coal vein is by 
geologists called " the Lexington coal " wherever the same vein is met 
with: 

kind of formation. 

Ft. In. 
Slope, loess or bluff formation, from mouth of air-shaft to first level 

of bluff", estimated vertical 50 00 

Surface soil cut through 2 00 

Loess 15 00 

Gravel — 8 

Coarse brown sand 2 6 

Shale (what the miners call soapstone) ... 13 00 

Dark-blue shell rock 1 6 

Light-colored, flinty limestone, with occasional small shells, and 

minglings of calc spar 6 6 

Shell marl, with nodules of chert 1 4 

Fire clay ' 2 00 

Dark-blue limestone, with shells and calc spar intermingled — 3 

Fire clay and soapstone (shale) 2 00 

Coarse, arenaceous limestone (roof of mine) 6 00 

Slate 1 6 

Coal 1 8 

Gray clay, varying from 6 inches to 3 feet in thickness. 

In 1872 Prof. G. C. Broadhead was assistant state geologist under Prof. 
Pumpelly, and examined nineteen different coal mines then being worked 
in Lafayette county. He found the coal two feet thick at Henry Franke's 
mine, half a mile north of Concordia, and at R. G. Tucker's mine at Lex- 
ington; 23 inches thick in mine east of the stone bridge at Lexington, and 
22 inches in Gen. Graham's mine a little way above the stone bridge up 
Graham's branch. It was 21 inches thick at the Mulky mines, two and a 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 233 

half miles east of Aullville, and the same in a mine west of the Lexington 
ferry landing. It was 17 inches on the Little Sniabar, six miles south of 
Lexington, and 16 inches, four miles below Berlin. Other mines are 
reported at 5 inches of coal (two miles east of Judge Wood's place), 6 
inches, 7 inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, and so on, but none higher than 
24 inches. The writer hereof measured a vein of coal 23 inches 
thick, with a clear outcrop in the bed of Rupe's branch about two miles 
back from the Missouri river, and only 30 or 40 feet from the Lexington 
and Gulf railroad bed which is said to now belong to the Burlington & 
Southwestern railroad company; this vein will furnish the railroad a good 
and easily-worked mine at the lowest possible cost. There are now coal 
shafts, or mines of some sort, in every township of Lafayette county. 

Dr. J. B. Alexander called our attention to a fact of local geological 
interest. The coal and other formations west of Rupe's branch lie about 
twenty-five feet higher than the corresponding formations on the east side, 
which shows that there was once a cortaclysm or great fracture of the 
earth's rocky ribs at this point, and one side of the gulfy chasm finally 
settled lower than the other. [See also under head of " River Surveys 
and Soundings."] 

Two petrified stumps were found in Tabo creek where the road from 
Lexington to Dover crosses it, and Mr. Geo. W. Garr has them at his 
house, which is the first one east of the bridge. He brought a large frag- 
ment of one stump to the Lexington Intelligencer office, where we 
examined it. This fragment was 13 inches long and 17 inches in diame- 
ter; its top fracture showed the open, heavy-pored, succulent structure 
that characterized the watery and gigantic weeds (they were not trees at 
all, in the present sense of the word) which formed the vegetation of the 
early carboniferous period. The wood is agatized, and some of the great 
pore cavities, nearly an inch square, are beautifully bordered with head- 
ings of chalcedony. Mr. Garr said the other specimens were similar to 
this, except very much larger, and some of the root parts still remaining. 
Rev. F. R. Gray, three or four miles southwest of Higginsville, section 
10, township 49, range 26, also has a petrified stump, about four feet 
around at its base, and 18 inches high, which was found in a small stream 
near his house in 1861. Some other fragments were found in the vicinity. 

These interesting geological specimens were originally imbedded in the 
bluff formation, and had been washed out and fallen to the bed of the 
• creek as its banks kept washing down. They originally grew in some 
region far to the northwest, or probably in Colorado, where whole forests 
of similar petrifications have been found; and these fragments, after petri- 
faction, were transported by masses of floating ice and dropped in Lafay- 
ette county while the great Missouri lake was being filled up with the 
sediment which now forms our priceless " bluff" formation. [See page 



234 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

80 of this history.] Their angles are not rounded or worn, like boulders 
and gravel, and this fact shows that they were not brought here during 
the glacial epoch, but were transported gently on or in floating ice, and 
" let down easy " as the bergs of ice stranded and gradually melted away. 
The following article was prepared by Prof. G. C. Swallow, the first 
and most eminent state geologist of Missouri, specialty for this work; but 
was not received until the foregoing geological matter had already been 
prepared, ready for the printers. 

PROF. SWALLOW'S SKETCH. 

The geological formations of Lafayette county are among the most 
interesting and useful to man. It is to these formations that Lafayette 
owes its fair fame as a most beautiful, fertile and prosperous country. 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS IN LAFAYETTE, 

In order from the surface down, are as follows: 

I. QUATERNARY SYSTEM. 

[1. Recent Alluvium. 
| 2. Bottom Prairie. 

PERIODS. - o r>j -or T 

\ 3. Bluff or Boess. 
I 4. Drift, 

VII. CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 

\ Lozver Coal Measures. 
' | Middle Coal Measures. 

1. The recent alluvium of Lafayette county includes the soils and all 
the recent deposits of clays, sands, gravels and river drift of pebbles found 
in the river bottoms or beds of lakes. These deposits abound in the beds 
of the stream as the sand-bars of the Missouri and the mud, gravel and 
pebble beds of the smaller streams, and in the stratified sands and clays 
beneath the bottom lands of the principal streams of the county. 

2. The bottom prairie so extensive in the Missouri bottom in Chariton, 
Carroll and Clay, covers but small areas in 'Lafayette. It is known by 
the many thin beds of sand, clay and loam interstratified in the formations 
under the old bottom prairies. These beds were deposited in the Mis- 
souri river bottom, when that stream spread its sluggish waters from 
bluff to bluff", filling the whole valley with the sediments of its lake-like 
waters. After the level was changed so as to give a rapid current to the 
waters, the river cut its channel through these deposits thus made, and 
has been wearing them away ever since and forming the newer river or 
alluvial bottoms, whose surface is more uneven and whose deposits of 
sand are more irregular. 

BLUFF OR LOESS. 

3. It is a singular fact, that while the bluff is older than the alluvial 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 235 

bottoms and bottom prairie, it lies higher on the bluffs and highlands adja- 
cent to the river valleys. ^ 

The bluff which underlies the soil in all the Highlands of the county con- 
sists of a sandy marl more or less stratified and varying in thickness from 
a few inches to more than one hundred feet. This vast deposit was evi- 
dently formed in one of those lakes which were formed as the ice of the 
glacial period melted away. This lake extended over northern Missouri, 
eastern Kansas, and southeastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa. * 
The Missouri, Sioux, Platte and Kansas rivers flowed in this lake from 
the north and west, bringing into it the rich marls ground out of the rocks 
to the north and west by the great glaciers of the drift period. These bluff 
marls constitute the rich subsoils of all the uplands of Central Missouri. 
The marls of the bluff are a little coarser and more sandy on the bluffs 
adiacent to the rivers, as the finer materials were washed out by the sub- 
siding waters of the streams where the land was changed and the lake 
drained oft and the rivers became more and more rapid, until they found 
their present condition. 

The bluff is by far the most valuable formation in the Mississippi val- 
ley. It is a vast storehouse of plant food, agricultural wealth. 

Organic Remains. The fossils of the bluff are very numerous and 
interesting. 

I have collected from it, of the Mammalia, two teeth of the Elephas 
•primigenius, mastodon, the jaw bone of the Castor fiber Americana, the 
molar of a Ruminant, and the incisor of a Rodent; of the Mollusca, seventeen 
species of the genus Helix, eight Limnea, eight Physa, three Pufa, four 
Planorbis, six Succinnca, and one each of the genera Valvata, Amnicola, 
Helicina, and Cyclas, besides some others not determined. 

These lacusstrine, filuvialile, amphibious and land species indicate a 
deposit formed in a fresh-water lake, surrounded by land and fed by rivers. 
These facts carry back the mind to a time when a large portion of this 
great valley was covered by a vast lake, into which, from the surround- 
ing land, flowed various rivers and smaller streams. We see the waters 
peopled with numerous mollusks, the industrious beaver building his hab- 
itation, the nimble squirrel, the fleet deer, the sedate elephant and huge 
mastodon, lords of the soil. There must have been land to sustain the 
elephant and mastodon and helices, fresh water and land for the beaver, 
and fresh water for the cyclas and limnea. 

Some geologists have supposed the marls back from the river which 
have a more jointed structure, are boulder clay and belong to the drift. 
This opinion, they think, is confirmed by the small pebbles sometimes 
found in these marls; but these pebbles would be very easily carried out 

* See page 80 for further explanation of this matter. Also, page 70 for Prof. Swallow's 
scale of the Missouri rocks . — Historian . 



236 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

into the lake by ice floating from the shores or from the many rivers flow- 
ing into it. a 

The evidence that the surface marls of the interior belong to the same 
formation as the marls on the river bluffs, is shown by the facts, they are 
continuous with the river bluff marls, they contain the same fossils, and 
have the same chemical composition, and about the same lithological 
characters. When both have been exposed to the weather, no one can 
distinguish them by the lithological characters. 

THE DRIFT. 

The drift which is so abundant in North Missouri, is very sparingly 
developed on the south side of the Missouri river. Where seen in Lafay- 
ette it rests immediately on the consolidated rocks of the coal measures, 
beneath the marls of the bluff just described. These limited deposits con- 
sist of sands and pebbles, containing some small boulders, called Lost 
Rocks. 

But these deposits are so limited as to be of little economical impor- 
tance. 

COAL MEASURES. 

The lower and middle coal measures are found to underlie the whole of 
the highlands of Lafayette county. These rocks are limestones, sand- 
stones, clays, marls, shales, iron and coal variously interstratified. 

The following section taken at Lexington will show the character of 
the middle coal measures of this county: 

No. 1.— Bluff marls. 

No. 2. — Five feet calcareous gray sandstone, in thin ripple marked 
strata. 

No. 3. — Thirty feet silico-argillaceous shale. This is also exposed at 
Owen's landing. 

No. 4. — One foot bitumuous shale. 

No. 5. — Eight feet purple, blue and green shale. 

No. 6. — One-half foot, bitumuous coal. 

No. 7. — Six feet, blue clay and marlite full of fossils. 

No. 8. — Ten feet, indurated brownish sandstone in thick beds. 

No. 9. — Six feet, purple, blue and green shales. 

No. 10. — Four feet, buff and gray limestone. 

No. 11. — Five feet, bluish green shales. 

No. 12. — Eight feet blue and gray t argillo-calcarous sandstone. 

No. 13. — Twelve feet, blue, green and yellow shales and clays. 

No. 14. — Two feet, buff slaty limestone. 

No. 15. — Five feet, hard gray limestone. 

No. 16. — Eight feet, blue and black shale and marlite. 

No. 17. — One and one-half feet, bitumuous shale. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 237 

No. 18. — Four feet, hard blue limestone. 

No. 19. — One and one-half feet, bitumuous *hale. 

No. 20.— One and five-sixths feet, bitumuous* coal. 

No. 21. — Two and one-fourth feet, bitumuous and yellow shale. 

No. 22. — Five feet, hard gray limestone. 

No. 23. — Nine feet, yellow and blue shale. 

No. 24. — Sixteen feet, blue and purple shale. 

No. 25. — Five feet, bitumuous shale. 

No. 26.— One-half foot, coal. 

No. 27. — Six feet, blue and yellowish argillaceous shale. 

No. 28. — Four feet, hard blue limestone. 

No. 29. — Two feet, shale. 

No. 30. — Six feet, buff and gray limestone. 

No. 31. — Twelve feet, bluish gray shale. 

No. 32.— Two-thirds foot, coal. 

No. 33. — Four feet blue sandy shale. 

No. 34. — Missouri river water. 

The upper coal measures overlie these middle coal measures to the 
west, and the lower coal measures underlie them below Lexington. 

The clays and shale of the coal measures usually make a poor soil as 
in England and Pennsylvania, but in Lafayette county, all the coal rocks 
are so deeply buried beneath the bluff marls, they have very little 
influence on the soils. 

ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY — SOIL. 

The usual process of forming soils on the suface of solid rocks, such as 
the surface of Missouri was before the clays, gravel, sands and soils were 
placed over the solid rocks, is a very slow process. The action of the 
winds, the rains, and the frosts would slowly decompose the rocks into 
sand, clay, and marls. Plants would grow on these clays and marls, and 
animals would live on the plants; and when the plants and animals died 
they would make up the necessary organic matter and thus the soil 
would be formed. But the process would be an extremely slow one. It 
would take a thousand years to form a foot of soil by this process. And 
when the solid rock is so near the surface, the soil is of small compara- 
tive value. 

Bui if some vast mill of the gods would grind up the rocks to the depth 
of some fifty or one hundred feet and then sort out the finest and best 
material and place it on top to the depth of from five to fifty feet, a first rate 
soil would be formed in a few years, since all the mineral elements would 
be provided in vast abundance and in the best possible condition to receive 
the decaying plants and animals to complete the soil. This is just what 
has been done for central and northern Missouri, 
c 



238 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



The great glaciers which swept over the whole of North America 
from the pole to our latitude), ground up the rocks and left the material to 
the depth of from a few irfcnes to more than a thousand feet. A lake 
was then formed over Missouri xind the adjacent parts of Iowa, Nebraska, 
and Kansas and the rivers washed the best soil material out of the ground- 
up rocks spread over the regions to the north and west and into the lakes, 
where it was deposited as the "bluffs," the best soil material in the world. 
Thus Missouri has in the Bluff the best soil materials of the rocks in all 
the States and Territories to the north and west as far as the Rocky 
Mountains and the Saskatchewan. 

PLANT FOOD IN LAFAYETTE SOILS. 

It may be well to ask attention to the vast amount of plant food in the 
soils of Lafayette ; but more particularly to the amounts found in the sub 
soils resting upon and formed out of the rich marls of the bluff. 

To show at a glance the amount of plant food in the soil itself, and then 
in each foot of depth below the soil, I have prepared the following table, 
which presents an average of all the varieties of soils resting on the bluff, 
from the richest Hackberry land to the poorest White Oak, and the 
amount for each foot in depth for the first three feet and also for one foot 
at he depth of twelve feet below the surface. Other portions between the 
third and twelfth foot and below are equally rich. 
Table showing the amount of various elements of plant food in each foot 

of the Lafayette soils resting on the Bluff as all the upland soils do. 



1st. foot, 



2d. foot. 



3d. foot. 



12th. foot. 



Lime 

Magnesia 

Potash 

Soda 

Phosphoric Acid 
Organic Matter. , 
Sulphuric Acid . . 

Chlorine 

Carbonic Acid. . . 



19.166 1 


bs. 


13.329 


cc 


13.310 


cc 


7.157 


« 


12,868 


cc 


269.636 


cc 


3.180 


cc 


.405 


cc 


not known. 



16,117 lbs. 

30.927 " 

32.234 " 

7.405 " 

11.157 " 

253.381 " 

2.990 " 

.429 " 

not known 



29.494 lbs. 


18.184 


cc 


17.413 


cc 


11.343 


cc 


13.996 


cc 


142.310 


cc 


4.051 


cc 


.664 


cc 


not known. 



26 .484 lbs. 

18.818 " 

40.420 " 

104.541 " 

1.491 " 

46.787 " 
not known, 
not known. 

44.605 lbs. 



This table shows these soils as rich in plant food, save the organic 
matter at a depth of three feet as they are at the surface, even a little 
richer in phosphoric acid, soda, potash, chlorine, and sulphuric acid. At 
twelve feet below the surface the amount of plant food is still greater, 
except in organic matter and phosphoric acid. 

Farmers usually cultivate less than one foot of their soils, and when the 
plant food is exhausted they use fertilizers, at great expense of money and 
labor to supply the plant food . But the farmer on these Missouri soils, 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 239 

when the surface soil is exhausted, has an abundance of the best fertil- 
izers in his subsoil; and instead of buying fertilizers and spreading them 
over the surface, he sets his plow a little deeper and turns them up from 
his own stores in the subsoil. And when the plants have consumed the 
supply thus obtained, there is still lower down, enough of the same costlv 
materials to replenish his soil a hundred times; for it goes all the way down 
to depths varying from 10 to 200 feet, all about equally rich, as the table 
shows it to be at a depth of twelve feet. 

To show the money value of this store of plant food in the subsoil of 
all these lands, we may reckon the commercial value of the phosphoric 
acid for a single foot in depth on one acre. The second foot of these soils, 
that is, the subsoil from the depth of one foot to two feet, in every acre 
contains 11,157 pounds of this acid. At ten cents a pound this would 
cost $1,115.70. The next foot below, that is from two to three feet in 
depth, contains in each acre 13,996 pounds of phosphoric acid, which 
would cost $1399.60. 

Thus it is seen that two feet only of these subsoils, contain on each 
acre as much phosphoric acid as could be bought in commercial fertilizers 
for $2,515.30. 

The soils as above shown, from which these results are obtained, were 
selected as representative soils from the lands of all grades. 

If we should calculate the commercial value of the other fertilizers, as 
potash, soda, sulphuric acid, chlorine, and organic matter found in the sub- 
soils of a single acre, and if the calculation be extended to a depth of ten 
feet or one hundred feet, the result would be somewhat startling. Such a 
calculation would not fall far short of a demonstration of the often repeated 
assertion, " Our Lafayette soils are inexhaustible." 

NATURAL HISTORY — NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS — TREES. 

Ash. — White ash, blue ash, black ash, prickly ash. 

Coffee bean tree. 

Cottonwood — a species of poplar. 

Crab-apple. 

Elm — White elm, and red or slippery elm. 

Dogvjood — 

Hackberry. 

Hickory — Thin and thick shell-bark hickory, bull-nut hickory, pignut 
hickory, pecan nut hickory. 

Ironzvood. 

Locust — Honey locust. 

Linden — or basswood; sometimes called white wood. 

Mulberry. 

Maple — white or soft maple, hard or sugar maple, ash-leaved maple or 
box-elder. 



240 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Oak — White oak, burr oak, post oak, rock or chestnut oak, black oak, 
pin oak, laurel oak, chinquepin oak, poison oak. 
Persimmon. 
Sycamore — or buttonwood. 

Walnut — Black walnut, and white walnut or butternut. 

Wild cherry — Black and red varieties. 

Willow. 

Shrubs — Blackberry, buttonbush, coralberry, elderberry, gooseberry, 
greenbriar, hawthorn, black haw, raspberry, red bud, paw-paw, hazel-nut^ 
wild plum, sumach, wahoo or staff tree, laurel bush, wild, black, or Mis- 
souri currant, wild roses, serviceberry. 

Vines — Honeysuckle, wild grapes, woodbine. 

NATIVE ANIMARS. 

Bear, beaver, buffalo, catamount, chipmunk, coyote, deer, dear mouse, 
elk, fox (gray and red) gopher, ground mole, groundhog, mink, muskrat, 
otter, opossum, panther, prairie dog, prairie mouse, pouched rat (com- 
monly called pocket gopher), rabbit, jack rabbit, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, 
red gray and black varieties, swift, weasel, (wolf prairie and gray and 
black varieties), wild cat. 

Birds. — Wild turkey, grouse or prairie chicken, wild goose, swan, peli- 
can, wild ducks (many varieties), snipe, plover, pigeon, partridge, gray 
and bald eagle, raven, crow, turkey buzzard, owl, hawk, finch, mocking 
bird, blue jay, kingfisher, gull, robin, bluebird, blackbird, bobolink, wood- 
pecker, oriole, sapsucker, night hawk, whipporwill, curlew, sandhill crane, 
blue heron, swallow, wren. These, some of which have several varieties, 
are the more common species of birds that have been found here ever 
since white men first knew the country. 

The black " Missouri honey bee " is an original native. 

MASTODONS IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Several years ago Mrs. W. H. Bowen found a monster tooth in Gra- 
ham's branch, nearly under the bridge of the old Lexington and gulf rail- 
road grade, where Graham's branch puts into Rupe's branch. Mrs. 
Bowen submitted the specimen to Dr. Alexander, and he pronounced it a 
genuine mastodon tooth. Master Frank Lamborn, the " printer's devil,'* 
of the Lexington Intelligencer office, also has a mastodon tooth which was 
found in Graham's branch. And " thereby hangs a tale." Graham's 
branch, flowing westward along the southern border of the city of Lex- 
ington, is supplied with water mostly from an immense spring (the Masto- 
don spring), which flows out of the ironated sandbed underlying the bluff 
formation in all this region. At the point where this spring flows out, 
and for, perhaps, a hundred feet along down the stream, its bed and mar- 
gin are miry, or composed of quicksand — very treacherous to tread upon. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 241 

The supposition is that in the ancient time, a mastodon' strolled along up 
this branch to cool and refresh himself with its perennial waters, but ven- 
turing too far, got mired in the quicksand, so that he could not extricate 
himself, and so died there. The conditions there were not favorable to a 
long preservation of his bones, and they long since dissolved away, but 
the teeth above mentioned remained to tell the story of the "Mastodon 
spring," and its prehistoric tragedy, at the city of Lexington. 

RATS. 

In 1877 a petition was presented to the county for the appointment of 
a time for the people of Lafayette county to make a special and united 
effort for the extermination of the rat pests. The court appointed Thurs- 
day, Friday and Saturday, December 27, 28, 29; and it will never be 
know how many thousands of rats went to hades on those days. 

In the Lexington Register of December 23, 1869, we find the following: 
" Mr. Robert Pucket, living in Old Town had been for some days both- 
ered with an animal, in many things resembling a rat. He used every 
means at hand to capture it, but was unsuccessful. He then laid poison 
for it. Two or there days afterwards, he was removing a hearth in his 
house, and found his strange visitor dead. It proved to be a double rat. 
It has two well formed heads, a large eye and a small one in each head, 
four ears, eight legs and two tails. Mr. P. has it on exhibition at his shop. 
It is to be regretted that this singular lusus naturae had not been captured 
alive. " 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY FISH STORY. 

In 1868 a blue catfish, which weighed 206 pounds, was caught with a 
hand line, near the mouth of Tabo creek, by Jesse Hamlet. In 1869 
Joseph Utt caught one, in a net, near the mouth of Willow creek, oppo- 
site Lexington, which weighed 218 pounds; and up to this time that was 
the biggest fish ever caught within the bounds of Lafayette county. In 
1876, Charles Silver, a colored man, caught a channel catfish, with a hand 
line, right at Lexington wharf, that weighed 176 pounds. Many other 
"whoppers" were caught at different times, but the above three are the 
only ones reported as having been accurately weighed at the time. 

Mr. Joseph Utt, of Lexington, followed fishing here for fifteen years, 
and is probably the best posted on the fish question of any man in the 
county. From him we obtain the following complete list of all the kinds 
of fishes found in these waters: 

Blue catfish, crescent-tailed one hundred to two hundred and twenty-five 
pounds weight. 

Channel catfish, dirty white color, fork-tailed, thirty to fifty pounds. 

Yellow or mud-catfish, extra big head, with tail nearly square, weigh 
from five to one hundred pounds. 



242 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Black catfish, five to twenty-five pounds. 

Pone-head or bank catfish, head narrow but deep; fish weigh from five 
to fifteen or eighteen pounds. 

Speckled catfish, fork-tail, small fish. 

Bullheads, small fish. 

Spoonbill catfish, long, shovel nose — not eatable. 

Channel buffalo fish, sucker-mouthed, ten to forty pounds. 

Round buffalo, sucker-mouthed, ten to forty pounds. 

Perch-mouthed buffalo. 

Red carp, sucker-mouthed. 

Drumfish, perch mouth, a game fish, good biter, etc. 

Jack salmon, six to eight pounds. 

Gar fish, long jaws with sharp teeth; this fish is not eatable, and is very 
destructive to smaller fish. 

Shovel fish — not eatable. 

Alewives, small fish, common in the spring-time. 

Red horse, log perch, black bass, croppie, chubs, silversides, and min- 
nows. 

Occasionally sunfish and pike are caught, but they are supposed to be 
estrays, and not native to these waters. 



SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 

SCHOOL HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

In 1817, a settlement was formed a few miles west of where the town 
of Waverly now stands, by Littleberry Estes, John Evans, a Mr. Hyde, a 
Mr. Russell, and a few others, whose names are not known. They were 
mostly from Madison county, Kentucky. What is claimed to be the first 
school ever opened within the bounds of Lafayette county, was started in 
this settlement, in the winter of 1819-20, by a son of Mr. Estes. Miss 
Susannah Estes, a sister of this first and youthful schoolmaster, afterwards 
married William Fristoe, who was, for about forty years, a well-known 
citizen of the county. In 1822-3, this school was taught by Edward 
Ryland, a brother of the elder Judge Ryland, who was afterward appointed 
circuit judge for eighteen, and supreme judge for eight years. 

But now comes John Catron, Esq., and says the first school in the 
county was taught by Benjamin Gooch, in 1820,* in what was called the 
Bedwell school-house, on the premises of the late Washington Johnson, 
about two miles east of Lexington, on the Dover road. Joseph Farrar 

*As near as we can make out from all reports, the fact seems to be, that young Estes 
started a little private school on his own venture, in the fall of 1819 : and Mr. Gooch's school 
was a more public affair, started the next fall. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 243 

taught at the same place, in 1822. In 1823-4, John Drummond taught a 
school about a mile further east, on the same road, about where John 
McFaddin now lives. James Warren taught in John Catron's neighbor- 
hood, in 1822. James Fletcher taught a three months' school, in 1823, at 
his own house, where Col. Joseph Davis now lives. Col. John Stapp, 
afterward county judge, taught, in 1828-9, at the Swift school-house, near 
where Mr. Ford now lives. James Francis taught in or near old Lexing- 
ington, in 1829-30. Dr. A. T. Buck taught the first grammar school in 
the county, using the old log court house in Lexington for a school-room. 
Judge James Pearson taught in the Warder neighborhood one or two 
years prior to 1830; and a Mr. White taught there in 1835.* William 
Spratt taught, in 1833, about four miles east of Lexington, in the Catron 
settlement — in a house built by the father of George M. Catron, Esq., who 
has been county superintendent or commissioner of schools for about ten 
years past. 

The school-houses at this time were rude log cabins with dirt floors, 
and seats made of slabs with pegs stuck in them for legs. They were 
"subscription schools,'" the teacher being paid $1 per month for each 
pupil, and boarding around among them. It was purely a private enter- 
prise, the teacher taking the risk of getting enough to pay him for his 
time; but the community at large generally provided the school-house, 
which was also used for Sunday preaching and other public meetings of 
the neighborhood. Each new settlement or cluster of families would soon 
have a school after this fashion, and no particular improvement was made 
for fifteen or twenty years; the only branches taught were reading, spell- 
ing, arithmetic, and writing with a goosequill pen, and often pokeberry 
juice for ink; occasionally a little grammar was added. But in 1836 we 
find at Dover a school which had risen to the dignity of having a punch- 
eon floor in its log house, and was in other respects quite ahead of the 
other schools in the county — hence it was known as the "Dover Acad- 
emy." It was at this time taught by John A. Tutt, a cousin to Judge 
Tutt, now of Lexington. Mr. Tutt's school was so large that he had to 
have an assistant; and in addition to the common branches he also taught 
grammar, geography, natural philosophy, geometry and trigonome- 
try. The pupils paid $1 per month for the "common branches," 
and $1.25 or $1.50, according to what "higher branches" they studied. 
Dr. Gordon (now of Lexington), attended this school in the winter of 
1837-38, and the next year was an assistant in the same school, while also 
a student. 

May 2, 1838, John Aull, of Lexington, made his will, which was wit- 
nessed by Young Ewing and Wm. Ward. Mr. Aull died in February, 

*For these particulars about the first schools in the county we are indebted to Wm . H. 
Chiles, Esq., John Catron, Dr. Wm. A. Gordon, aad Rev. Joseph Warder. 



244 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



1842; and on the 22d of the same month his will was filed for record in 
the probate court. It contained the following bequest for school pur- 
poses: 

" I give, devise and bequeath in trust to the county court of Lafayette 
county, in the state of Missouri, the sum of one thousand dollars, to be 
loaned out by said court on real estate security, of ample value and free 
from all incumbrance, and at the highest legal interest, to be continued at 
interest perpetually — and the. interest accruing therefrom to be applied 
under the direction of said court to pay the tuition or education of orphan 
or poor children under the age of sixteen years, at or within two miles of 
the county seat of said county." 

He also gave a similar amount for the same object and under the same 
conditions, to each of the counties of Ray, Clay and Jackson. James and 
Robert Aull, of Lexington, and Samuel C. Owens, of Jackson county, 
were the executors of this will. 

The above explains the "Aull fund" which has so mysteriously 
appeared as a special item in the annual school reports for some years 
past, the county court having placed it with the public school resources. 

We could not find in Lexington the first annual report of county super- 
intendent, as his returns are made directly to the state superintendent; 
but on applying to the latter officer we received promptly the following 
reply, dated Jefferson City, Aug. 1, 1881 : "The records of this office 
show the first annual school report of your county to have been made by 
J. L. Minor, in January, 1842. Copy enclosed." 

FIRST APPORTIONMENT LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MO., JANUARY, 1842. 



Township 

and 

Range. 


No. of 
Districts. 


No. Mos. 

and days 

School tag't. 


Amount 

paid 
Teachers. 


Amt present 
Appor- 
tionment. 


No. 
Children 
Tauuht. 


No. Child'n 

bet 6 and 18 

years. 


Town 50 R 26... 


No. 1. 

No. 2.. 
No. 3. . 


7 mo 

9 mo.. . . 


$119.00 
96.00 


$28.20 
24.00 


43 

20 


47 
40 




26 


Township 48 


Jackson 
Wash'tn 
Teffers'-n. 
No. 1.. 
No. 1.. 


6 mo.. . . 
6 mo. . . . 
6 mo.. . . 

6mo7d 
5 mo24d 


165.00 

150.00 

84.00 

150.00 


41.40 

31.80 
19.80 
30.60 

22.S0 


43 

33 
17 
30 
35 


69 
53 
33 


Town 49 R 24... 
Town 51 R 24. . . 


51 

38 



These were the only districts that sent in reports, although it is known 
that there were many other school districts then in the county. 

The first printed annual report of the state superintendent that we suc- 
ceeded in finding was that of 1870 — printed in 1871. From the tabulated 
returns from Lafayette county as given in that report we compile the fol- 
lowing statistics: Total number of subdistricts, 82; total number of school 
houses, 76 — 6 brick, 63 frame, 7 log; 8 new frame school houses had been 
built during the year. Total number of white school children, 7,388; 
colored children, 1,286; total, 8,674. Total number in schools, 4,574. Of 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 245 

this last number 601 were in private schools, the balance in the public 
schools. The average number of months taught was 5. Total number 
of teachers, male 64, female 30; 1st grade certificate 32, 2d grade 62; 
average wages per month, male $55.11, — female $39.28. Estimated total 
value of school houses and grounds $58,278; furniture and apparatus, 
$4,175. At this time the school-age enrollment was between 5 and 21 
years; and the total in the state was 690,250. 

For some years the state school law required Teachers' Institutes to be 
held periodically, and made some provision for the necessary expense 
attending them, besides allowing teachers engaged in school their wages 
while attending the institute. 

The first Teachers' Institute ever held in Lafayette county was at Lex- 
ington, in the old Masonic College, June 13th, 1867. The only names 
mentioned as taking part in itare G. K. Smith, county superintendent; Dr. 
D. K. Murphy, A. Slaughter, and A. M. Clay. The next Institute was 
appointed to be held at the public school house in Lexington, August 10, 
1867; and others were held at the same place in succeeding years. 

In November, 1873, one was held at Aullville, conducted by Prof. Bald- 
win, principal of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, who eight 
years afterwards told our present county school commissioner, Geo. M. 
Catron, Esq., that that Aullville Institute was the best Teachers' Institute 
he ever attended. We therefore make it a historic waymark in this 
sketch of our county's school progress. The executive committee were 
G. M. Catron, W. F. Bahlmann, L. B. Wright. Prof. Baldwin, conduc- 
tor. The Institute continued from Monday morning, Nov. 24, till Satur- 
day night, with from 21 to 27 separate exercises each day. We could not 
learn how many were in attendance, but found the following names of 
teachers who took leading parts in the exercises, to wit.: Miss Gussie 
Clowdsley, Miss Mattie Wallace; Messrs. Taylor Winn, J. G. Worthing- 
ton, N. T. Moore, F. Thornton; Miss Ella Shaw, Miss Aurelia Miller, 
Miss Lucy W. McFarland; Messrs. Samuel M'Reynolds, J. M. Bediechek, 

P. A. Fisher, Keating; Miss Bettie Arnold, Miss Lizzie Talley; 

Messrs. W. L. Robinson, J. B. Jones, W. E. Clark, C. O. Smith, W. T. 
Doyle; Miss W. J. Finley; Messrs. W. F. Bahlmann, Rudolph Erbschloe, 
J. F. Conner, C. F. Johnston, T. W. Carmichael, Miss Nannie Shaw, Miss 
M. F. Carpenter; Messrs. D. H. Hill, G. K. Smith, Alex. Graves, M. L. 
DeMotte, J. B. Merwin, G. W. Thornton, Rev. L. Bedsworth; Miss 
Bettie Drysdale, Miss Celia Rice, Miss Anna Rees, Miss Mary B. Mad- 
dox; Messrs. C. H. Lacey, L. G. Manypenny, W. Brown, Edgar Flem- 
ing, Lucian B. Wright, Hon. John Monteith, state superintendent; Miss 
Maggie Smith, Miss Sallie B. Smiih, Miss Fannie Burke, Miss Allie 
Jones; Messrs. James Cather, Wm. Allison, J. A. Lee, W. H.Carter, 
Bates, J. D. Conner. 



246 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

The teachers entered into the work with a zeal and enthusiasm which 
made this meeting, which was the largest one ever held in the county, also 
the most brilliant. 

In November, 1874, another institute was held, under the same execu- 
tive committee and the same conductor, Prof. Baldwin, at the village of 
Dover. But meanwhile the public provision for expenses had been abol- 
ished; the teachers had not only to do the work but also to pay the 
expenses; and the good people of Dover were generous in providing free 
entertainment for those who attended. From this time forward the county 
institutes rapidly declined and soon went out altogether — and for several 
years past no attempt has been made to hold them. School teachers can- 
not afford to hold them at their own private cost. 

SCHOOL STATISTICS OF THE COUNTY, 1881. 

From Mr. Catron's last annual report made to the State superintendent 
July 1, 1881, we compile the following statistics: 

Male. Female. Total. 

White children of school age* in the county 3,769 3,496 7,265 

Colored " " " 782 761 1,543 

Number of white children in public schools 2,476 2,168 4,639 

colored " " 377 442 819 

Total number of school houses in the county, 106; houses rented for 
school uses, 3 ; value of school property, $50,660 ; No. of white schools in 
operation, 90; ditto colored, 19; No. of teachers employed during the 
year — male, 63; female, 85. Average of salaries per month — male, 
$39.97|; female, $31,27. Total of teachers' wages during the year, $27,- 
740.74. Average cost per day of tuition for each pupil, 8 cents. Fuel 
during the year cost $1,326.21. Total assessed valuation of the county, 
$7,426,240; rate per cent, levied for school purposes, 33 cents on $100. 

THE AULL SCHOOL FUND. 

The last will and testament of John Aull, of Lexington, was admitted 
to probate February 22, 1842, and contained special bequests amounting 
in all to $62,000. Among the special bequests occurs the following: "I 
give, devise and bequeath in trust to the county court ot Lafayette county, 
in the State of Missouri, the sum of one thousand dollars, to be loaned out 
by said court on real estate security of ample value and free from all 
incumbrances, and at the highest legal interest, to be continued at interest 
perpetually — and the interest accruing therefrom to be applied under the 
direction of said court to pay the tuition or education of orphan or poor 
children under the age of sixteen years, at or within two miles of the 
couuty seat of said county." (The same amount, under the same condi- 
tions, was bequeathed to each of the' counties of Ray, Clay and Jackson.) 

♦Between the ages ot six and twenty years. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 247 

This bequest was received by the court, placed among the county's vari- 
ous funds, and remains intact to this very day. The interest goes annually 
into the public school fund of the city of Lexington. 

COUNTY CONVENTION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESIDENTS. 

January 5, 1875, a convention of presidents of school districts was held 
at Lexington. The following list of that convention will serve to show 
the school system of the county: 

Sub- Sub- 

R. President. dist. Twp. K. President. 

24 George P. Gordon 5 48 24 Otto Walkenhorst 

24 Jacob Newland Aullville Wm. Downing 

27 Wm. Pearcy 2 48 25 Jacob Taggart 

27 Eli Adams Mayview John P. Herr 

25 George Liese 2 45 24 Henry Oeting 

25 H. L. Grooms 2 51 25 L.G.Buford 

27 Dr. S. Smith Lexington H. J. E. Ahrens 

26 John Page 1 50 26 David Groves 

27 Moses Anson 5 48-49 26 S. L. Smith 

25 A. K. Sittington 2 50 29 H. H. Westmeyer 

25 R. Kountz 3 49 25 D.H.Hill 

28 John E. Arnold Lafayette countv..Geo. M. Catron 

28 R.T.Russell 6 49 27 " C. L. Ewing 

28 Mat. Wood 3 50 24 T.A.Catron 

28 J. B. McDonald 4 49 26 Seth Mason 

27 Thos. Jones 4 51 28 J. W. Burton 

28 Isaac Varner 4 50 27 D.J.Morgan 

26 Ferd. Smith Higginsville H. G. Smith 

24 C. Reisterer 2 49 26 A. W. Douthitt 

24 H. A. Bringater 1 51 24 John Chrisman 

25 H. Haeffer 3 49 28 H. S. Kincaid 

25 John Yokely 1 49 27 H. C. Chiles 

24 Fritz Everets 4 49 29 M. Strader 

The following committee was appointed to select a list of school books 
for use in this county: 

Clay township, J. B. McDonald; Dover township, D. Groves, Prof. 
Carter; Davis township, G. P. Gordon; Freedom township, H. Reisterer; 
Lexington, H.J. E. Ahrens; Middleton township, C. C. Catron; Sniabar 
township, R. T.Russell; Washington township, C. L. Ewing; county at 
large, George M. Catron. 

" COTTONWOOD ACADEMY." 

Wm. Houx relates the following: In the forepart of the winter of 1838, 
George Houx and his brother Wm. Houx, originated the idea of estab- 
lishing a high school. William Houx hewed cottonwood logs on an 
island in the river above Lexington, and floated them down to the town, 
and the same year erected a log house, 18ft by 20ft. He got the boards 
to cover the house from a large white oak tree that stood near where the 



list 


Twp 


1 


49 


4 


50 


6 


50 


5 


49 


4 


50 


2 


49 


1 


50 


1 


50 


4 


49 


4 


49 


1 


51 


3 


5»> 


1 


48 


1 


48 


1 


50 


3 


50 


2 


50 


3 


50 


] 


48 


4 


48 


2 


50 


1 


48 


4 


49 



248 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Baptist church now stands, corner of North and Poplar streets. This 
was the beginning of the high schools in Lafayette county. A number 
of ladies were principally educated here, who afterward became wives of 
prominent men of the state. The Messrs. Houx secured the services of 
Mrs. David Hogan, of Pettis county, to come and take charge of the 
school. The school continued in a flourishing condition for several years. 
The Messrs. Houx after a number of years, gave their interest to Rev. 
Robert Morrow. Mr. George Houx was the leader in this enterprise, 
and furnished all the means. 

THE OLD MASONIC COLLEGE. 

It has been extremely difficult to get any data for a sketch of the early 
days of this historic institution, although some of its graduates have won 
honorable celebrity in their several spheres of life. We first interviewed 
five or six different men in Lexington who were supposed to know all 
about it, but we were always referred to some one else. We then wrote 
to Rev. Dr. Vincil, and here is his reply: 

Office of Grand Secretary, A. F. & A. M., ) 

State of Missouri, > 
St. Louis, July 18, 1881. ) 

Dear Sir: — I know nothing of any records concerning Masonic col- 
lege. I can furnish no data. 

Respectfully, 

John D. Vincil. 

We then wrote to Judge Wm. T. Wood, at Kansas City, and here is his 
reply: 

Kansas City, Mo., July 29, 1881. 

* * * I had full knowledge, but most strangely, I fail to remem- 
ber those facts so as to answer your purpose. I have no papers or mem- 
orandum to which I can refer to assist me. * * * Everything was 
written down, and all papers and records were kept by Dr. Boulware, 
since deceased. * * * I think it probable that his widow, Mrs. 
Boulware, still residing in Lexington, has preserved them, and if so, I am 
sure it will give her pleasure to give you full access." 

Thereupon we interviewed Mrs. Boulware, who said she had given all 
her husband's papers to Dr. Chapman, administrator of the estate, and to 
Zenophon Ryland, Esq. We sought Dr. Chapman, and he said no 
Masonic records or papers had come into his hands; then we found Mr* 
Ryland — and he did not remember about it, but said if he did receive any 
he sent them to the grand secretary, as the college was entirely under the 
control of the grand lodge. But really he did not think Dr. Boulware 
ever had any records of the college; he was secretary of the Masonic 
lodge, but not of the college. We give the foregoing facts to show how 
difficult it often is to get reliable historic data on a matter supposed to be 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 249 

familiar to everybody, and to show that this historian did the best he could 
to get full particulars of the Masonic era of the old college. 

We finally got the following points from Mr. James Cloudsley: "After 
considerable discussion in the grand lodge over the proposition to establish 
a college for the orphan children of deceased Masons, it was finally decided 
to do it, and the cities of Lexington and Palmyra became rivals to secure 
its location; but Lexington made the Largest offer, subscribing $30,000 
toward it, and thus it became located here. In the spring of 1847 the 
corner-stone was laid, with the usual ceremonies, by the grand master, 
Joseph Foster, E. Winsor and Wm. P. Walter being marshals of the day. 
The main building was erected that year, and in 1848 it was dedicated by 
Grand Master Foster. It was controlled entirely by the grand lodge; it 
was primarily for the benefit of the orphan children of deceased Masons; 
and each member in the state was to pay a small per capita tax to support 
the collage. H. Sherwood was the first president of the board of trus- 
tees. The first professors were Archibald Patterson and Matt. Williams. 

Gen. John S. Marmaduke, of Saline county, Judge Samuel F. Gilbert, 
of Platte county, Missouri, and Stephen B. Elkins, member of congress 
from New Mexico, were educated in this college, and have since dis- 
tinguished themselves. 

The people of Lexington raised altogether about $32,000 and put into 
the buildings and grounds of this institution. But when the civil war 
broke out in 1861 it was early occupied as a military post, and was alternately 
in possession of federals and confederates all through the war. Soon after 
the close of the bloody struggle the old college building was converted 
into a military institute by the state authorities. But in this character it 
soon became such a palpable farce that the state returned it to the Masons. 

From the report of the proceedings of the house of representatives on 
January 10, 1870, we take the following: 

By Mr. Miller, of Lafayette: On leave, resolution that a committee of 
five be appointed to visit the Missouri Military Institute, at Lexington, 
and report its condition to the house. 

A statement from the Auditor was read, showing that $15,000 had been 
appropriated for establishing and improving the Institute. 

Mr. Miller said that the institute there was a swindle on the state. The 
military part of the institution consisted of four colored youths, who peri- 
odically parade around the dilapidated building. The superintendent 
resides in two rooms of the building. Beyond that it is unoccupied. About 
two hundred dollars had been spent in improving the house. It was a 
burlesque upon the design of its founders and proprietors. He would 
like to know what had become of the $3,000 a year appropriated to the 
institution. The state should either re-cede the grounds and property to 
the donors, or establish there a school worthy of the name. The money 
is drawn out of the treasury on some pretext of official requisition, but the 
accounts should be examined to find how the funds had been applied. 



250 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

The governor had informed him in effect that there had been no school 
there for twelve months. The motion was adopted, and Messrs. Miller, 
Weinrich, Powell, Ithner and Key were appointed. 

The college property having reverted to the Missouri Grand Lodge, in 
the year 1871, they donated it to the 

CENTRAL FEMALE COLLEGE, 

of the Methodist Episcopal church south, on condition that they would 
maintain a first-class female college in the building, and furnish free tuition 
to a limited number of daughters of deceased or indigent Masons. 

The Central Female College was organized in 1869, and duly incorpo- 
rated, with all the powers usually pertaining to a collegiate organization. 
Many of the members of this new body had been among the original 
incoi porators of the Old Masonic College, so that the ultimate succession 
was the more easily effected. Wm. Morrison was first president of the 
board of curators. The first session of the new female college opened on 
the first Monday in September, 1869, with Dr. Wm. F. Camp as acting 
president of the faculty. He was in a short time succeeded by Dr. J. O. 
Church, who filled the chair about two years, and was then followed by 
X)v. W. T. J. Sullivan. The next president was Rev. Marshall Mcllhany; 
and after him W. F. Kerdolff, Jr., the present incumbent. 

W. F. Kerdolff, Jr., was born in Lexington, Missouri, in October, 
1853. During his early life he attended constantly either private or pub- 
lic schools in his native town, and in the fall of 1870, left home to attend 
Central College at Fayette, Mo., where he remained four years. Very 
early in life he united himself with the M. E. church south, and has since 
remained a consistent member of the same. During the time he was at 
college, he obtained license to preach, and since that time has continued 
his relation of " local preacher " in his chosen church. Soon after leaving 
college he married Miss Alice Eaton, an estimable young lady who 
resided near Fayette and whose father and mother are of old Kentucky 
and Virginia stock. In the fall of 1875, he began teaching school in Mor- 
gan Park Military Academy, near Chicago, 111., where he remained two 
years. At the end of this time he came back to his old home, Lexington, 
Mo., and took charge of the Lexington High School, where he had grad- 
uated before leaving home to attend college. In this position he remained 
three years and was re-elected for the fourth year, but declined the prof- 
fered position and was soon after called to the presidency of Central 
Female College. Under his administration the college is now in a more 
prosperous condition than ever before, there being more pupils enrolled at 
this time of the present year, October, 1881, than during the whole of any 
previous "year. 



252 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

HISTORY OF THE ELIZABETH AULL FEMALE SEMINARY. 

Elizabeth Aull was born at New Castle, in the state of Delaware, in 
1790. She united with the Presbyterian church of her native town when 
about fifteen years of age. She was sister to James, John and Robert 
Aull, and Mrs. Maria Pomeroy, all of whom were early settlers and in their 
lifetime, wealthy and prominent citizens of Lexington. As early as 1839 
we find the names of Elizabeth Aull and her sister Mrs. Pomeroy and ' 
brother James, among the first members of the Presbyterian church, 
which was organized in Lexington during that year. There were twenty 
of those first members, and Mrs. Pomeroy is the only one of them who is 
still living, 1881. 

In 1857-8 Elizabeth had a lingering sickness which finally resulted in 
her death. During this period she meditated much upon what she should 
do with her property, she having about $150,000 in her own right; and it 
was in this time of protracted wasting of body that she formed her plan 
and purpose to do something for the education of the young women of 
this state, for she had observed that the provisions for their education 
were meager and insufficient. Also, about this time occurred the business 
failure of H. S. Chadwick & Son, to whom she had loaned $10,000 and 
taken security on Mr. Chadwick's fine residence. This mansion was about 
to become her property, and it seemed like a providential provision for the 
female seminary which she was planning in her mind. The plan and pur- 
pose and determination of the project was entirely her own ; and after she 
had fully decided upon it, then she called in her pastor, Rev. B. M. Hob- 
son, and asked his counsel about some of the lesser details of the matter. 
It has been commonly believed that Mr. Hobson had used his influence to 
induce her to devote some of her ample means in this way, for the bene- 
fit of the church, but Mr. Hobson himself says it was not so; and Mrs. 
Pomeroy also informs us that it was Elizabeth's own doing — that she did 
not even mention the matter to her until she had determined upon it, and 
thought of the Chadwick house as a nice place for the school. 

The following is that portion of Miss Elizabeth Aull's will in which 
she made provision for the founding of a seminary. 

'■'■Item j6l/i. I give and bequeath to Robert Aull, George W ilson and 
Rev. B. M. Hobson, as trustees, upon the conditions and subject to the 
restrictions hereinafter named, the following real estate situated in the 
city of Lexington, Missouri, viz: The real estate recently purchased by 
me of Hanson S. Chadwick, and now in his possession, embracing lots 
numbered five, six, seven, eight and nine, in block number two, in Mun- 
dy's addition to the town of Lexington, as described in the plat of said 
addition, now on file in the recorder's office for said county of Lafayette, 
the real estate hereby bequeathed, being the whole of the real estate con- 
veyed to me by the said H. S. Chadwick and wife by deed dated the 29th 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 253 

day of September, A. D., 1858. In trust, however, to be used as a female 
seminary of learning, under the management and control of the Presby- 
terian church, in Lexington, Missouri, of which I am now a member; upon 
condition, however, that upon said premises such seminary shall be opened 
and established within three years after my death. And, if upon said prem- 
ises such seminary shall not be opened and established within the period afore- 
said, then said premises and every part thereof shall revert to and become a 
part of my estate ; or if after said seminary shall be so opened and established, 
said premises shall cease to be used for the purpose aforesaid for a period 
of two years, then said premises and every part thereof shall revert to 
and become a part of my estate. And, in the event, for the reasons afore- 
said, or either of them, said premises shall revert to my estate, I give and 
bequeath the same and every part thereof to my residuary legatee here- 
inafter named, his heirs and assigns forever. And, if in addition to the 
real estate above specified, which I value at ten thousand dollars, a fur- 
ther subscription of ten thousand dollars in money, shall be made 
and paid to the proper person or persons, for the use and benefit of 
said seminar)' - , within three years after my death, then I give and bequeath 
to the said trustees, above named, the further sum of ten thousand dol- 
lars for the use and to be expended for the benefit of said female semi- 
nary. 

This will was signed and sealed by Miss Aullin the presence of Edward 
Stratton, Wm. P. Boulware and A. H. McFadden, October 1, 1858. Her 
death occurred December 12, 1858, and on December 18th the certificate 
of probate was issued. February 22, 1859, the will was recorded, and the 
executor named in it (Robert Aull) was placed under bonds of $150,000 
for his faithful execution of its many bequests. 

The citizens of Lexington soon commenced making subscriptions 
toward the additional $10,000 which were necessary to secure the bequest. 
About $6,000 were subscribed; but it began to be feared that under the 
conditions of the will some state of facts might occur which would cause 
the whole property, subscriptions and all, to revert back to the residuary 
legatee. The requisite $10,000 could not be made up, and consequently the 
Chadwick property, and the contingent $10,000 named in the will would 
soon fall to John Aull, as the will provided. At this stage of affairs Mr. 
Aull made a proposition which should still meet, legally, the terms of the 
will, and at the same time not defeat his sister's wish to found a female 
seminary. He would take the Chadwick property, as the will provided 
he should, and give his own house in place of it for the school; and give 
one-half of the contingent $10,000. This was not nearly so liberal a pro- 
vision as Miss Aull had herself intended to make; Mr. Aull's house was 
not so good a one, and the amount of money was only half; but it was a 

D 



r 



254 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

great deal better than to lose the school entirely, because the $10,000 
''additional subscription" could not be raised. So the working friends of 
the enterprise accepted Mr. AulFs proposition, as the best they could do 
under the circumstances. And about $2,000 of the $6,000 which had 
been subscribed were ultimately paid in, notwithstanding this change of 
plan. Stephen G. Wentworth has been one of the trustees from the 
beginning; he was treasurer seventeen years, and president of the board 
three years; he donated to the school a telescope and some other scientific 
apparatus, besides other liberal benefactions. 

The legislature of Missouri chartered the constitution March 12, 1859, 
and incorporated Robert Aull, Rev. B. M. Hobson, Gen. R. C. Vaughan, 
Dr. J. B. Alexander, John Chamberlain, George Wilson, James Wilson, 
S. G. Wentworth, Samuel F. Taylor, A. W. Hutchins, W. J. Ferguson, 
Rev. T. A. Brachen, and Edw. M. Samuel, as the original board of 
trustees. 

Rev. Lewis Green Barbour, A. M., now professor of mathematics, 
Central University, Richmond, Kentucky, was chosen the first president. 
Under his management the school opened its halls for the reception of 
students September, 1860. The school prospered under his care, and 
made for itself a fine reputation. The war, however, soon came on; while 
the school was not closed, it materially interfered with its peace and pros- 
perity. Mr. Barbour remained, true to his trust, until the war closed, 
when he resigned, and was succeeded 'bv Capt. Rufus W. Finley, A. M., 
who entered upon his duties in the fall of 1865. His term of office closed 
in the summer of 1867. 

Anthony Haynes, A. M., a graduate of the Missouri State University, 
succeeded him. He resigned after a three years' administration. 

The next president was Rev. J. A. Quarles, A. M., a graduate of West- 
minster College, Missouri, during the incumbency of Pres. S. S. Laws, 
now at the head of the State University. This was the beginning of a new 
era in the history of the seminary. Mr. Quarles, in addition to his tute- 
lage for eight years, under Prof. F. T. Kemper, of Boonville, Missouri, 
had attended the college at Fulton, had passed two years at the great 
University of Virginia, then at the zenith of its glory, and had taken 
theological course at the world-renowned seminary of Princeton, New 
Jersey. Possessed thus of an unusually liberal education, he was also 
gifted with energy and rare executive and organizing talent. He threw 
his whole soul into the work, and thoroughly remodeled the school from 
top to bottom. The present plan, which is quite peculiar, is his work. Its 
radical features were introduced by him at once; but the minutiae have 
been the result of his thought, experience, and observation since he has 
been engaged in the work. He was fortunate to associate with himself 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 255 

Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Ireland, who took charge of the boarding department, 
and have made it exceedingly popular. 

Mr. Quarles continued at the helm for three years, during which period 
the school grew in patronage until it became necessary to add the left 
wing to accommodate its increasing members. The joint labors of the 
church and school proving too much for him, he resigned the presidency 
in 1875, and Rev. Jas. M. Chaney, A. M., was chosen his successor. The 
administration did not last longer than three years, when he was followed 
by Maj. A. H. Todd, A. M„ who conducted the school one year. 

In 1877 Mr. Quarles, having been laid aside from the ministry by what 
the physicians pronounced an incurable disease of the throat, was again 
chosen president for a period of ten years. The past four years of his 
second administration have been growingly prosperous. In 1879 Mr. 
Quarles purchased the square of ground adjoining the Seminary on the 
southwest, and converted the brick building that was on it into the Prepar- 
atory Department. In it are also rooms for the school of Design. In 
18S0, the buildings still being crowded, seven additional rooms were added 
in the rear of the chapel. Even this did not furnish the accommodations 
needed, and so, later in the y^ar 1881, Mr. Quarles bought the square 
next southwest, on which stood the elegant and commodious mansion 
which was Miss Aull's original bequest to the Seminary. This he occu- 
pies as a residence, and as a home for any pupils who may not be able to 
find accommodations in the main buildings of the Seminary. In the cut 
of the grounds as found in this volume, the three adjacent squares, all 
under one enclosure, are presented. The buildings on the right, as you 
look at the picture, are the Seminary proper, containing the chapel, reci- 
tation, music and sleeping rooms, all under one roof. The central building 
is the Preparatory Department. The house on the extreme left is the 
president's mansion. These buildings have but two stories, and thus long 
stairways are avoided. The main buildings are lighted throughout with 
gas. The grounds altogether enclose something over six acres. The 
location is the bluff of the Missouri river, the buildings overlooking the 
turbid waters of that majestic stream. The health of the institution has 
been so good, that not a single death has occurred amongst the boarders 
or teachers during the twenty-one years of its existence. 

The studies are divided into two grand departments; easily, naturally 
and necessarily seperable from each other. Each of these are sub-divided 
carefully and accurately. The sciences are arranged into subordinate 
departments. The preparatory, the intermediate and the collegiate. This 
division is, of course, based upon grade. The collegiate department of 
the sciences is arranged into separate schools: The school of English, of 
mathematics, of history, of languages, of physics, of metaphysics, and of 
the Bible. The department of the arts is also classified into schools: the 



256 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

school of music, of design, of elocution, of penmanship, of fancy work, 
and of cooking. 

The course of study in mathematics embraces the calculus; in physics, 
ten of the natural sciences, in languages, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Anglo- 
Saxon, German. French, Italian, and Spanish. In music, the course is 
classical and unusually extensive. 

In the collegiate department, the graded system has been abandoned, 
and the elective substituted for it. This is one of the more radical features, 
and, as its friends claim, most important reforms. Each pupil is graded 
in each study according to her attainments in that study, and without ref- 
erence to her proficiency in anything else; and no pupil is advanced 
or retarded bv those who belong to her grade. A parent or pupil may 
select iust those studies which taste and talent may indicate. There is no 
treadmill course. Each one stands exclusively on her own merit in each 
department. The pupils are not graduated by classes, each one must work 
her way, study bv study, until she has passed successfully all the written 
examinations of the course. The work of no other institution is accepted. 
That is, if a pupil has passed to the senior year in another college, and 
then comes here, she must stand the regular written examinations of this 
seminary in the studies she has pursued, if she wishes to graduate. As 
proof that the standard for graduation here is exceptionable high, Mr. 
Quarles points tp the fact that during the seven years of his prosperous 
administration, onlv five young ladies have received the baccalaureate 
diploma, while the mistress' degree has not yet been even attempted. 

Another peculiarity of this seminary is its partial diplomas. If a pupil 
here does no more than pass the examination in spelling, she is given a 
certificate of that fact. So she is awarded a similar testimonial for every 
success that she attains. If she passes five examinations, or fifteen, she is 
given an authentic record of it, with her standing in each. Moreover, 
quite a number of distinct diplomas are given, besides those for the bac- 
calaureate and mistress' degrees of science. In each school of studies, a 
baccalaureate and a mistress' diploma are offered. So there is a normal 
degree for teachers. A seminary degree, corresponding to that usually 
given bv female colleges. Bv these means, all the varieties of taste and 
capacity can be accommodated: each girl is stimulated and encouraged > 
and exact justice is done to every pupil upon her record. 

Another characteristic is written examinations. These are the founda- 
tion for all the honors that are offered. No public exhibition has been 
given for eleven vears. 

J. A. Quarles, president of the Elizabeth Aull female seminary, was 
born in Clark's Fork township, Cooper county, Missouri, near Boonville, 
April 30, IS 37, of parents who had emigrated from Virginia the preced- 
ing fall. When he was nine years old he was so fortunate as to be placed 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 857 

under the care of the famous Prof. F. T. Kemper. Here he rema:r-: 
until the summer of 1^54, having completed the course of mathema: 
including the calculus, and having read a full - : :he Greek and Latin 

classics. 

He was then sent to the university of Virginia, where he spent nearly 
two Years. This institution was then at the zenith of its prosperity, hav- 
ing an annual attendance of over six hundred students. In the summer 
of IS 54 Mr. Q. returned to Boonville, and Prof. Kemper having accepted 
a professorship in Westminster college, he was asked to take temporarv 
charge of the schools, which he did for the next school year. In the fall 
of 1*57 he entered the theological seminary of the Presbvterian church 
at Princeton, New Jersey, where he remained two years enioving the 
instructions of its celebrated professors. In the spring of 1S55, Prof. 
Kemper being a professor in the college at the time, he was admitted into 
the senior class of Westminster college. Missouri, where he graduated 
first in his class, after an attendance of onlv three months. 

In the spring of IS 59 he returned to Missouri from Princeton, and was 
licensed to preach, April 9, by the presbytery of Missouri, in the Presbv- 
terian church of Columbia. He then went to Springfield, Mo., with a 
view to a permanent settlement, but in the fall of the same vear he received 
a call to the church at Glasgow, Mo., which he accepted, and where he 
was ordained and installed pastor Februarv 15, I860, and remained until 
January, 1866. He was successful in his work here, the church having 
quadrupled its members during his stav of six vears. 

January, 1866, he removed, upon invitation, to Lexington. Mo., and 
preached his first sermon as pastor on the opening Sabbath of the new 
year. The congregation had been scattered and the church was a good 
deal discouraged. He remained pastor until September, 1S73 — nearlv 
eight years — during which time 2*39 persons united with the church, about 
two-thirds upon an original profession of faith. 

September. 1873, Mr. Q. was called to the High street church, St. 
Louis. He accepted and removed to that citv: but was almost immedi- 
ately informed by the most skilled phvsicians there that he was the victim 
in an aggravated form of the "preacher's sore throat." He continuec 
labors, however, enjoying the skilled treatment of Dr. Wm. C. Glasgow, 
until the summer of 1*74. when he w - reluctandv compelled to give 

up the profession for which he had been trained, to which he had gr 
his early enthusiasm and was most ardently attached, and in which he had 
been greatly blessed. During his brief and trving ministrv in St. Louis 
88 persons united with the High street church. 

July, 1*74, Mr. Q. returned to Lexington, and went, for his health, to 
spend the summer in Colorado. In the fall, for the support of his familv, 
he opened a drug store in Lexington: and this proving inadequate, he 



258 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

accepted from Mr. Wm. B. Steele the position of deputy county clerk of 
Lafayette county, and entered upon his labors January, 1875. Here he 
remained until the summer of 1877, having the satisfaction of seeing the 
county in far better condition than when he entered its service. 

In the summer of 1870, while Mr. Q. was pastor of the Presbyterian 
church, he was elected to the presidency of the Elizabeth Aull seminary, 
under the control of that congregation. For three years he discharged 
the double duties without rest, winter or summer, Saturday or Sunday. 
This was doubtless the cause of the failure of his health. In 1S73, as 
already stated, he resigned and went to St. Louis. In 1877 he was 
re-elected to the presidency of the seminary for a term of ten years. This 
position he now fills. 

Oct. 11, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie W. Field, 
daughter of Wm. H. Field, Esq., a distinguished lawyer of Pettis county, 
Missouri, whose tragic death at the hands of the federal soldiery was one 
of the most shocking incidents of our civil war. Mrs. Q. still lives, and 
is the mother of ten children, but five of whom, however, are now living. 

THE BAPTIST FEMALE COLLEGE. 

The seed germ from which this excellent institution of learning sprang, 
was sown in about 1853, in the shape of the first female seminary, or 
select school for young ladies, established in Lexington, by Rev. A. V. C. 
Schenck, which, at that time was not under the auspices of any particu- 
lar denomination. Rev. Mr. Schenck had in June, retired from the pas- 
torate of the first Presbyterian church of Lexington, and then started this 
school. In 1855, this was merged into the Baptist female college, under 
the auspices of a joint-stock company, known as the "Blue River Baptist 
Association," the trustees of which procured a charter in the same year, 
and purchased a building at a cost of $24,000, [the old brick court house], 
located in that part of Lexington, known as " Old Town, " and elected the 
Rev. E. S. Dulin, D. D., president. Under his direction some $6,000 or 
$8,000 were expended in fitting up the building, and beautifying the 
grounds in order to render it a suitable place for the education of young 
ladies. As the result of his judicious management the school became one 
of the best female colleges in the state. He resigned the presidency in 
1859, and Professor J. B. Budwell was requested to occupy the place until 
a suitable successor could be found. In the same year the Rev. J. A. 
Hollis was elected president, under whose control the school attained a 
high degree of prosperity, the attendance reaching above two hundred. 
He retained his position until 1861. During that year when the federal's 
came to occupy Lexington, it was at once seen that the edifice of the 
Baptist college, and that of the Masonic college, for the education of 
young men, were very suitably located for garrison and hospital purposes, 



260 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and the federal authorities required that these buildings should be vacated. 
Thus two of the best educational institutions of the state were obliged to 
suspend. Except for the short time during which General Price held 
Lexington, the federal authorities held undisputed possession of the col- 
lege building for hospital purposes, and even during that time the sick 
and wounded federals, who were unable to bear transportation were 
allowed to remain, and upon the departure of the confederates were left 
in quiet possession of the building, where they were found by the feder- 
als upon their re-occupation of the city. 

Shortly afterwards the authorities converted the building into a pest- 
house, and the small-pox patients of their army were sent to it. During 
the mutations of the war, these poor fellows were frequently neglecLed. 
The citizens of Lexington kept them from starving, but for want of trans- 
portation could not furnish them with the necessar}*- supplies. In conse- 
quence ot the severity of the weather, and of the limited supply of fuel, 
they were obliged to burn the doors, door and window casings, etc., in 
order to keep themselves from freezing. Hence when the building again 
came into the possession of the trustees, after the war, it was found to be 
entirely unfit for occupancy, and this fact, together with that of its having 
been used as a pest-house, rendered the board unwilling to re-occupy it 
as a college. They, therefore, disposed of the building and grounds for 
the pitiable sum of $4,000. Thus was a property worth at least $35,000, 
sacrificed. The board of trustees has never put in a claim for this loss, 
but they have petitioned the general government to allow them a fair 
rental, — or about what they had previously received, a thousand dollars a 
year, for the four years during which the federals were in possession. 
They have been informed that the claim has been allowed, but no appro- 
priation has yet been made for its payment. This has worked a great 
hardship to the friends of the institution. In their efforts to re-establish 
it they have contributed and expended $25,000, but in defiance of 
their best efforts they find the college burdened with a debt of $4,227, 
and during the past twelve years they have been obliged to provide for 
the annual interest at the rate of ten per cent on the above debt. 

During the year 1854, while the college edifice was still occupied by 
troops, Dr. K. S. Dulin consented to resume the presidency, and other 
buildings were secured. Under his judicious management the prosperity 
of the school was restored, and it soon became necessary to provide addi- 
tional accommodations. Accordingly, in 1868, the present college build- 
ings were purchased for $11,500, and $4,300 expended in fitting them up 
for school purposes. Dr. Dulin presided over the interests of the college 
until 1869, when he was induced to accept the presidency of Stephen's 
college at Columbia, Missouri. The lamented D. H. Selph, D. D., was 
his successor, becoming president of the college in 1869, and although as 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 261 

well fitted to occupy the position as any man could be, the complete fail- 
ure of his health compelled him to resign in 1873. 

In June, of the same year, Prof. A. E. Fleet was chosen to the presi- 
dency and during his administration the school steadily increased in pop- 
ularity and efficiency. During the summer of 1876, owing to the increase 
in the number of boarding pupils, the trustees, at a cost of $2,000, added 
a new story to the main building, which with its mansard roof and tower, 
make it one of the handsomest and most convenient school-buildings in 
the state. The whole house has been fitted for gas and the use of kero- 
sene has been entirely discontinued. During the session of 1876-7 the 
number of boarding pupils was fifty-six and that of day pupils the same — 
one hundred and twelve in all. 

Frequent improvements, have since been made, involving the expendi- 
ture of several thousand dollars. In 1»79, Prof. Fleet resigned his posi- 
tion to take the chair of Professor of Greek in the State University, and 
Professor John F. Lanneau, who still occupies the presidency, was 
appointed to succeed him. Prof. Lanneau was formerly professor of 
mathematics in William Jewell College, and for several years president of 
the Female College at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

The Baptist Female College is divided into three departments — literary, 
art and home. The faculty for the coming year (1881-2), consists of fif- 
teen teachers; six in the literary, six in the art, and three in the home 
departments. Prof. Charles Gimbel, of the art department, is a gentle- 
man of national repute, as a music composer, being the author of over 
fifty pieces of sheet music published by leading houses. The average 
attendance during the school term in this college for ten years past has 
been about 125. The number in attendance October, 1881, was 121. 

John F. Lanneau, A. M., president Baptist Female College, Lexing- 
ton, Mo. Born in Charleston, S. C. in 1836. In 1856 graduated at the 
South Carolina Military Academy, at the head of his class, and was 
during his senior year assistant professor of drawing. In 1856, became 
tutor in mathematics in Furman University, Greenville, S. C, and the 
next year was appointed adjunct professor of natural philosophy and 
chemistry. In 1861 he enlisted in the war on the side of his native state, 
and was commissioned captain of cavalry in the Hampton Legion; in 1862 
was lieutenant, and in 1864 captain of engineers;. and in this capacity 
served on the staff severally of Gen. Longstreet, Gen. Lee, and Gen. 
Hampton. At the close of war in 1865 he returned to his post in the 
Furman University and was made profesor of mathematics and astron- 
omy. In 1868 he became professor of mathematics in the William Jewell 
College at Liberty, Mo. In 1873 Prof. Lanneau accepted the presidency 
of the Alabama Central Female College at Tuscaloosa, Ala. In 1879 he 
took charge as president of the Baptist Female College of Lexington, Mo., 



262 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

his present position ; and under his management the school is enjoying a 
very high degree of popular favor and financial success. Prof Lanneau 
was married in 1869 to Miss Louise S. Cox, of Greenville, S. C, a gradu- 
ate of the Baptist Female College at that place. 

HISTORY OF THE WENTWORTH MALE ACADEMY. 

Wm. Wentworth, son of Stephen G. and Eliza Jane Wentworth, was 
born at Lexington, Mo., December 30, 1852. When about fifteen years 
old he united with the Presbyterian church, and was a young man of high 
moral character; indeed, he was held in esteem and affectionate regard 
by the entire community. For about rive years he was well known to 
the business men of Lexington as acting teller of the Morrison-Went- 
worth bank. But his health began to decline; and in January, 1877, he 
went to Texas, hoping that the change of climate would restore him ; it 
did benefit him for two seasons — but death had marked him for its own, 
and there could be no permanent rejuvenation of the frail body. He 
returned to Lexington, May 2, 1879, and in ten days thereafter yielded up 
his spirit, falling asleep in Jesus, the dear and loving Savior in whom he 
put his trust. It was a great comfort to his father that William was 
providentially permitted to spend his last days at home, surrounded by 
true and faithful friends, and to breathe his life out with the serene and 
peaceful trust of the Christian's well anchored hope. 

The father's heart was so profoundly touched with gratitude to God 
for this blessed comfort in his affliction, that he decided to make a thank- 
offering in some form of public benefaction, in token of his heartfelt 
thankfulness, and as a memorial of love for his noble son. After med- 
itating upon and considering prayerfully various modes of public benefac- 
tion which presented themselves to his mind, he finally decided that as the 
Christian education of young women in Lexington was well provided for 
by three excellent female colleges, liberally sustained by their different 
religious demonstrations, he could not do a more useful thing than to 
establish in the same city a first-class academy for boys and young 
men. These were the circumstances, and these the motives out of which 
was born the new educational institution we are here recording. In 1878 
the " First Presbyterian church of Lexington " dissolved its organization, 
and Mr. Wentworth bought their house of worship, on the corner of Elm 
and North streets, for $2,500, (the building orignally cost $11,000), with 
a view to carrying out the plan which he had formed for a male academy. 
In September, 1880, a school was opened in this building, under the name 
of "Wenworth Male Academy." In September, 1879, Prof. B. L. 
Hobson had opened in Lexington a select school for boys, but in view of 
Mr. Wentworth's plans, he merged his enterprise into the new academy, 
and associated with himself Prof. Sandford Sellers; they conducted the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 263 

school one year, when Prof. Hobson retired on account of failing health. 

April 18, 1881, the institution was duly incorporated by the following 
named persons, constituting the first board of trustees: 

" Now therefore, we, the undersigned, S. G. Wentworth and Wm. G. 
McCausland, of the Presbyterian church ; Henry C. Wallace of the Mis- 
sionary * Baptist church; Edward Winsor of the Methodist Episcopal 
church south; George M. Catron of the Christian f church; Wm. F. Ker- 
dolff, Sr., of the Episcopal church, and Benjamin D. Weedin, of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian church, hereby constitute ourselves, our associates, 
and successors, a body corporate and politic under the corporate name of 
' Wentworth Male Academy,' for the period of 990 years from and after 
the date hereof, subject to renewals and extensions, and vested with all the 
rights, immunities, powers, and privileges granted to educational associa- 
tions under article ten of chapter twenty-one of the revised statutes of Mis- 
souri of 1879." 

Article III says: "The affairs of said corporation shall be managed by 
a board of seven trustees who shall be resident male members of the prin- 
cipal protestant churches in Lexington, Missouri, and vicinity. Said Acad- 
emy shall be free from the control of any one religious denomination, but 
shaH"always be managed and taught by Christian men." Full provision 
is made for the filling of vacancies in the board; and if from any cause 
any one of the churches named should cease to exist in Lexington, then 
the church next nearest like it in form of doctrine and mode of worship 
shall be entitled to the lapsed representation in the board. And thus every 
contingency of the perpetual succession is provided for. This is in some 
respects a " new departure," and the very fact that six different religious 
denominations have thus united on a basis of mutual trust and mutual res- 
pect to manage a christian college by jointure of representation in its gov- 
erning board, is one of the signs of the times full of good hope for the 
future. 

The first annual catalogue of this Academy was issued in July, 1881, 
and showed a roll of fifty-three students at that time. Prof. Sandford 
Sellers, A. M., principal; Prof. A. W. Payne, A. B., assistant. S. G. 
Wentworth, president board of trustees; Geo. M. Catron, secretary; Wm. 
F. Kerdolff, treasurer. 

In addition to the Academy building, Mr. Wentworth also purchased a 
house two squares further west, on the corner of north and oak streets, 
commonly called College street, for the Academy boarding house, so that 
students who did not reside with their parents or friends in the city could 
have a home together under the constant guard and counsel of the pro- 

* There is a branch or body of Baptist people commonly called " Hardshell Baptists, 1 ' 
who are opposed to missionary operations; and those Baptist churches which do engage 
in missionary work use the name il Missionary Baptist" to distinguish themselves from 
the anti-missionary body. fOr Disciples. 



264 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

tessors, and a discreet, motherly Christian woman as matron. This build- 
ing contains ten good rooms, besides the dining room and outside kitchen. 
Mr. Wentworth's idea has been to do for the cause of Christian educa- 
tion what he could during his own lifetime, and while he could see to it 
himself that his intentions were carried out and his money properly 
applied, instead of leaving a bequest to take all the chances of misman- 
agement or misappropriation by others after his death — an idea which is 
worthy of all commendation and public gratitude. 



COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS. 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 

This society was orgagized in 1852, at Lexington, and had from fifteen 
to twenty members. Monthly meetings were held regularly, with inter- 
est and benefit. Matters concerning the diseases peculiar to this region, 
and their medical treatment, were sometimes discussed with much ability 
and research. Dr. J. B. Alexander and Dr. J. F. Atkinson were its dele- 
gates to the American Medical Association at its St. Louis session, in 
May, 1854. Dr. Alexander was secretary most of the time, but the 
society was broken up and its records lost during the civil war. 

June 13, 1865, a meeting or convention of physicians was held at the 
court house, to organize a medical society to be "composed of resident 
physicians of the city and county." One object stated was to establish by 
joint interest a medical library which all might consult, of such costly books 
and charts as one physician alone could not afford to purchase. Of this 
meeting Dr. W. P. Boulware was president and Dr. J.W. Teader secre- 
tary. A committee consisting of Drs. Atkinson, Cooley, and Alexander was 
appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. But we found no further 
record of this society. 

The next record we find shows that the physicians of Lafayette county 
l^- met on Saturday November 20, 1869, in the court house in Lexington, for 
the purpose of organizing a county medical association, having for its 
object the discussion of medical subjects and the cultivation of brotherly 
feeing among the members of the profession. Dr. J. F. Atkinson was 
called to the chair and Dr. O. F. Renick was chosen secretary 

On motion of Dr. A. V. Small the following gentlemen were elected 
permanent officers for the ensuing year: Dr. J. F. Atkinson, president; Dr. 
O. F. Renick, vice-president; Dr. Wm. P. Boulware, secretary. On 
motion the president appointed the following committee to draft a Con- 
stitution and By-laws, by which, when adopted the society is to be gov- 
ernened. Said committee to report at the next meeting of the society, 
viz.: Wm. P. Boulware, M. D.; T. S. Bolton, M. D.; P. H. Chambers, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 265 

M. D.; Geo. W. Young, M. D.; J. B. Alexander, M. D. On motion of 
Dr. Chambers, the president was added to the committee. 

In 1879 a "Lafayette County Medical Society" was organized at Hig- 
ginsville. It holds monthly sessions at different places throughout the 
county It has met at Higginsville, Odessa, Mayview, and Lexington. 
No further particulars furnished. 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETY. 

This society was incorporated in 1855, for the purpose of promoting 
improvements in agriculture and manfactures, and in the raising of stock. 
It was the first enterprise of the kind in the county. The following were 
the original members or incorporators: 

Minos Adams, George W. Smith, R. Hale, Street Hale, C. Ben. Russell, 
John Cather, George Zeiler, Geo. P. Venable, R. E. Hays, Geo. Kennedy, 
Benj. Marshall, C. Easter, D. Russell & Co., B. T. John, John C. Young, 
Evan Young, W. M. N. Green, Wm. Ewing, J. M. Julian, James Clowds- 
ley, Eneberg & Jennings, J. F. Hassell, Strother Renick, Linn B. Gordon, 
Thomas B. Campbell, Alex. Mitchell, Wm. Limrick, O. F. Thomas, Benj. 
Fish, A. Green, C. O. Grimes, Geo. H. Ambrose, E. Winsor, A. J. Wil- 
liams, John K. Lord, J. M. McGirk, John Catron, J. H. Page, A. N. Small, 
Henry C. Chiles, J. Russell, James F. Campbell, James Peddicord, Wm. 
T. Wood, Wm. T. Bell, J. D. Robinson, Loeb Terhune, Leroy L. Hill, J. 
W. Zeiler, B. R. Ireland, R. W. Kune, Tilton Davis, R. M. Spurtly, 
James C. Kelly, G. T. Douthitt, F. M. Fields, R. J. Smith, John W. Wad- 
dell. 

The society was authorized to hold land not exceeding thirty acres, and 
other property, including exhibition building, not exceeding in value $10,- 
000. Judge Wm. T. Wood was its first president and E. Winsor, Esq., its 
first secretary. This society established and built the historic fair ground, 
about two miles southeast from Lexington city. It held many fine exhibi- 
tions, and kept up a good interest until the war time; but since that it has 
lain dormant. 

In September, 1880, a new organizntion was formed at Higginsville, 
called the Lafayette county Industrial and Stock Association. It was 
incorporated in June, 1881, with the following officers: president, Jack- 
son Corder; vice-president, Col. Joseph Davis; treasurer, Capt. A. 
E. Asberry; secretary, L. T. Bell; general superintendent, Dr. C. W. 
Seeber. The board of directors consist of Jackson Corder, Joseph Davis, 
Ryland Todhunter, Charles Hoefer, W. H. Waddell, John O. Lockhart, 
T. - B. Campbell,- H.J. Higgins, W. A. Redd, C. W. Seeber, Geo. P.Gor- 
don, J. D. Conner and H. H. C. Chiles. The capital stock is $8,000. 
Their grounds comprise about forty acres, with buildings, stables, yards, 
ponds, a good race track, etc., three- fourths of a mile from Higginsville, 



266 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and near the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis railroad. Their first annual 
exhibit occurred in August, 1881, and was a grand success. The man- 
agers of the first fair held by this society were: Dr. C. W. Seeber, 
general superintendent; H. G. Smith, assistant superintendent; B. S. Hig- 
gins, chief marshal; Mansfield Wilmot, assistant marshal; J. D. Conner, 
general superintendent of floral hall, agricultural and mechanical depart- 
ment; W. W. Preston, superintendent agricultural department: D. S. 
Swacker, superintendent of mechanical department; W. C. Beatie, super- 
intendent, and Mrs. R. Todhunter, assistant superintendent of homi', field 
and garden: Mrs. H. C. Chiles, superintendent fruits and flowers; Mrs. 
Jackson Corder, superintendent of fine arts department; Mrs. H. J. Hig- 
gins, superintendent textile fabrics and materials; Geo. Catron, superin- 
tendent of poultry department; H. C. Chiles, superintendent sheep and 
swine. 

old men's association. 

At a meeting of the old citizens and soldiers of the war of 1812, held 
August 4, 1868, at the residence of Mr. James Hicklin, on motion of 
Henry Wallace, it was agreed that an " Old Men's Association " should be 
formed, comprised of persons of seventy years of age and upwards; that 
all persons present should record their names, age and place of nativity, 
which was done. On motion, Henry Wallace w is elected president and 
Jabez Shotwell, clerk. 

On motion, Henry Wallace and Jabez Shotwell were appointed a com- 
mittee to draft and present to the consideration of the association, a con- 
stitution, which duty was duly performed; the committee reporting the 
following which was unanimously adopted by the members present : 

constitution. 

Article 1. A president shall be elected at each meeting, whose duty 
it shall be to preside and keep order. 

Art. 2. A clerk shall be elected at each meeting, whose duty it shall 
be to keep a record of all the names of the members, their age and nativ- 
ity, and the proceedings of each meeting. 

Art. 3. Meetings shall be held during the months of May and Sep- 
tember of each year, at the houses of the different members, for mutual 
conversation and enjoyment. 

Art. 4. All members of this association must be seventy years of age, 
or upwards and must be elected by the unanimous consent of the associa- 
tion. 

Art. 5. It shall be the duty of each member when requested, to relate 
his experience, either verbally or in writing. 

Art. 6. Each member's* name shall be enrolled, with his age and 
nativity. 

Art. 7. It shall be the duty of all the members to visit each other, 
particularly in sickness or distress. 

Art. 8. Each meeting shall be opened with prayer. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



267 



Where born. 

N. Carolina 
Virginia. . . 
Tennessee . 
Kentucky . 



Daniel Sims 
George Buckner .... 



S. Carolina. 
-1 795 Virginia . . . 



*1793 

Street Hale Dec. 25, 1798 ... 

Lucien Dumaine. . . . March 25, 1800. . France . . . 

John R. Ford .... May 8, 1801 Kentucky 

Wm. McCormack . . Feb. 15, 1800 Virginia . . 

Wm. Frick May 4, 1792 Germany . 

Thos. Callaway Nov. 26, 1789. . . Virginia'. . 

N. J. Carter. ." Nov. 21, 1807 . . 

Hiram M. Bledsoe. . April 2, 1798 Kentucky 

J. G. Suddath April 12, 1800 .... Virginia" . 

*--Wm. McCausland. . Oct. 9, 1797 Ireland . . 

James Sommerville. . Feb. 27, 1793. . 

R. C. Johnson Nov. 19, 1789. . 

Robert Renick March 16, 1798 

David Locke Sept. 3, 1799 . 

Jesse Schofield July 15. 1801 . . 

Philip Prather Feb! 27, 1799 . . 

Elias Wheatly July 2, 1803. . . . 

Levi Simpson * * 

Isaac Chanslor Jan. 23, 179!) Kentucky . 

Joel P. Wiles Sept. 12, 1804.. . . * 

Thos. C. Bledsoe. . . April 15, 1802. . . Kentucky . 

Gideon Flournoy . . .. April 25, 1805 ... *..... 

James Baird July 11, 1803 Kentucky. . 

Alexander Cheatham *1801 Virginia . . . 

Rev. F. R. Gray. . . July 30, 1806 Kentucky.. 

♦Record defective; dates and place of birth or death not given . 



Virginia. . 
« 

Kentucky 

u 

Penn 

Kentucky 



Date of death 



■1869. 



"4871 or '72. 



The following is a complete list, as far as can be obtained from the 
records, of all who have joined up to the present time, with date of birth, 
place of nativity, and date of death if not living: 

Name. Date of birth. 

Edward Minnis Oct. 13, 1 7S4 . . 

Wm. Robinson Feb. 25, 1791 . 

Lewis Green July 12, 1791 . . 

Jabez Shotwell Nov. 28, 1791. 

Henry Wallace. . . . March 24, 1792 

John Nelson Feb. 7, 1792 Tennessee . 

Arthur G. Young.. . Sept. 26, 1794. 

James Hicklin Jan. 7, 1795 " 

John Vaughn Sept. 3, 1795 Kentucky. . 

Washington Johnson July 10, 1795 Virginia. . . 

Robert N. Smith. . . June 6, 1794 

R. H. Bradley Feb. 19, 1790 Georgia . . . 

James H. Graham.. . Dec. 5, 1798 New York. 

George Houx March 8, 1797. . . Kentucky.. 

Wm. Houx Feb. 22, 1799 .... 

Howard Williams. . . Dec. 5, 1797 " 

G. T. Chrisman May 7, 1794 

Jesse Roberts June 11, 1795 .... Virginia 

Wm. Helms June 18, 1795 



May 3, 1879. 
April 14, 1877 
*1871 

July 9, 18S1 . . 

Dec, 1873 . . . 

*1875 

* 



Jan. 17, 1871 



May 28, 1881 
*1875 or '76. 
*J877 

Oct! 25, 1876. 

Dec. 26, 1876 
Oct. 23, 1876 



*1875 



*1880 , 



Sept. 18, 1879 

June 10, 1876 
Dec. 1, 1879. 



, 



268 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Rev.J. L. Yantis... Sept. 14, 1804... . " 

Wm. M. Whitsett... Sept 11. 1805 " 

Alex. P. Hogan *1788 *.. 

Wm. F. Bradley Sept. 15, 1806 Tennessee 

Col. James Young.. May 11, 1800. . .. " ... Feb. 9, 1878. 

John Prico Feb. 21, 1807. . .. Kentucky 

James H. Norfolk. .. Oct. 26, 1799 Maryland 

Isaac Ruffner Jan. 21, 1804 West Virginia 

Lawson Grant July 1 , 1810 Kentucky 

Paschal A . Gibbs . . . Aug. 6, 1810 Virginia 

Henry Wallace, Sr., founder of the " Old Men's Club " association. 
Mr. Wallace was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, March 24, 1792, 
and died in Lafayette county, Missouri, May 27, 1875. His father, Hon. 
Caleb Wallace, a physician and Presbyterian minister of considerable 
eminence, was one of the earliest settlers of that region of territory 
afterwards formed into the State of Kentucky, residing there as early as 
1782, when it formed a part of Virginia. His father was a native of Vir- 
ginia, and was a member of the several conventions held preparatory to 
the formation of the state of Kentucky, as well as of the constitutional 
conventions of 1792 and 1799, under the former of which, Kentucky was 
admitted into the union. He was appointed judge of the court of appeals 
of Kentucky in 1792, and filled the position with honor till 1812. The 
maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Rose Ann 
Christian, who was a daughter of Col. Israel Christian, a revolutionary 
soldier and highly respected citizen of Virginia. The subject of this 
notice had seven brothers and one sister, and was the survivor of them 
all. The sister, Priscilla, became the wife of Judge Wm. Logan, a well 
known citizen of the state of Kentucky, also, a member of its court of 
appeals. 

Mr. Wallace was raised to manhood in his native county, with only sue 
opportunities for an education as a new country then afforded. At the 
age of twenty, he volunteered into the cavalry regiment of Col. McDowell 
for the war of 1812, and served under Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, in a vig- 
orous winter campaign against the Indian allies of Great Britain, in Ohio 
and Indiana. After the expiration of his term of enlistment, he became 
a farmer within his native county, and soon after, on August 18, 1814, led 
to the marriage altar, Miss Elizabeth C. Carlyle, daughter of George 
Carlyle, an old veteran of the revolutionary war, and also, an early setder 
of Kentucky, from Virginia. This estimable Christian lady is still living 
near the city of Lexington, Missouri. Mr. Wallace united with the Bap- 
tist church in Woodford county, Kentucky, in 1823, and ever after lived 
in the communion of that denomination, a consistent Christian, character- 
ized by deep piety and wide benevolence. He immigrated to Missouri 
and settled in Lexington, Lafayette county, in the spring of 1844, and 



HISTORY OF LAYFAETTE COUNTY. 269 

resided in the city till 1853, when he removed to his farm a mile and a 
half south of Lexington, where he spent the remainder of his days. He 
enjoyed, in a high degree, the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, 
both in Kentucky and Missouri, a tribute won by his exemplary life, pub- 
lic spirit and unimpeachable Christian character. He was endowed with 
great force of character; had a vigorous and well cultivated mind, and 
maintained to the end of life an abiding faith in the truth of the Christian 
religion, and the government and providence of God. 

He was the founder of the " old soldiers' club," afterwards known as 
the "old mens' club " of Lafayette county, most of the members of which, 
like himself, have passed away from the battles and {oils of this life. He 
raised ten children. The eldest son, Caleb B. Wallace, a well known 
lawyer and once state senator of Kentucky, died in Missouri while on a 
visit to his parents and friends in 1855. 

Three sons, Hon. H. C. Wallace, a prominent lawyer of Lexington, 
Missouri; Charles C. Wallace, of the same place, and Curtis O. Wal- 
lace of St. Louis, still survive him. One of his surviving daughters 
resides in Mound City, Illinois, and another in Jackson county, Missouri, 
and one, unmarried, at home with her mother; Three others, Mrs. G. W. 
Carter, Mrs. Dr. P. H. Chambers, and Mrs. F. C. Short, died some years 
ago, all leaving descendents. 

OLDEST PERSON IN THE COUNTY. 

Mrs. Marie Uphans, who resides in Freedom township, near Concor- 
dia, was born in Prussia, March 11, 1780. Her 100th birthday was' cele- 
brated by a gathering of about three hundred persons. She is still living, 
October 1, 1881, aged 101 years and 7 months, and is doubtless the oldest 
living person in the county. 

Alexander C. Hogan, of Davis township, was born March 1; 1783, near 
Richmond, Virginia.. He came to Davis township in 1839, and has lived 
there ever since. 

Dr. Robert W. Rankin, now residing with Judge F. E. Barnet, in Snia- 
bar township, was born in Kentucky, August, 1790. Served as magis- 
trate in Lillard county several years before the name was changed, in 1825, 
to Lafayette. 

Bettie Langhorn, a negro woman who died in Lexington, March 29, 
1880, was born in Buchingham county, Virginia, during the winter of 
1876-77. This was vouched for by Mrs. A. F. Brown, of Malta Bend, 
Mo., whose grandmother's family originally owned Betty as a slave and 
knew her age. Old Betty was the mother of eleven children, and finally 
raised a child of her own granddaughter. She was over 104 years old 
when she died. 



270 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Richard Collins Johnson, of Sniabar township, is over 9S years of age. 
He was a soldier under Gen. Jackson, and was in the battle of Talladega 
during the war against the Creek Indians in Florida. 

The following persons, now living, August, 1881, have resided in 
Lafayette county since 1819, a period of 62 years: 

Clay Township. — Mrs. Ish, widow of Wm. Ish. 

Dover Township. — Mrs. John Lovelady, who was the bride of the first 
wedding in the county, and the mother of the first child born in the county. 
Jesse Cole, also of Dover. 

Lexington Township. — John Catron, and Mrs. Rebeeca Robinson, 
widow of Wm. Robinson. 

Lexington City. — Thomas B. Wallace. 

Washington Township.— Mrs. Dolly Marshall, widow of Absalom Mar- 
shall. 

There is a sort of " Early Settlers Association " in existence, of which 
every person who has resided forty years in the county is ex-qfficio a mem- 
ber; but no statistics of the organization were furnished. 

THE OLD WHIG PARTY-OF LAFAYETTE. 

In 1861 that patriarch of the press in Lafayette county, Mr. Charles 
Patterson, wrote for the Waverly Visitor, some political reminiscences 
which have a historic interest and value. We here quote the main facts, 
after eliminating sundry personal and partisan matters that were local to 
the time: 

When Lafayette county was first organized out of old Lillard, she had 
only thirteen whigs in her limits. * * * The county never exhibited 
signs of returning reason until 1838, when Mr. Burden and his compeers 
in the " good cause," at the sacrifice of much precious time, " bush- 
whacked" every neighborhood, and Mr. Burden, young as he was, 
mounted the " stump " in opposition to Democracy's champion, Col. 
"James Young, who had had the field almost to himself. 

Two years passed over, and the campaign of 1840 approached. * * 
The whig cause increased in enthusiasm; 'log cabins' were built, 'hard 
cider' was drank, 'latch strings' were hung out side; and 'mass meetings' 
were held. 'Tippacanoe and Tyler too' were the watch words, and the 
'union of the whigs for the sake of the union' was the great motto of the 
land. Previous to the state election in August, 1840, the whigs of Lafay- 
ette in mass meeiing nominated Drs. J. B. Vivion and Wm. Ward for the 
legislature. The canvass was an interesting one, and was conducted 
with enthusiasm. 

Election day came on, and when the polls were closed, Lafayette was 
redeemed — the two doctors were elected by 25 majority. The result 
added a new impulse to the whig cause, and all attention was then 
directed to the presidential canvass. An immense 'log cabin' was erected 
and a 'tall' Harrison pole was raised. Election day arrived, and when the 
votes were counted, Harrison and Tyler had 75 majority over Van Buren 
and Johnson. * * John B. Clarke of Howard, was the whig candidate 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 271 

for governor, in August, and carried the county. Two years rolled by, 
and another county election was at hand. Mr. Burden was the nominee 
of the whigs for the legislature, the county having but one delegate under 
a recent apportionment. * * In 1844, Mr. Burden was returned to 
the legislature, and before the close of his second term, secured the loca- 
tion of the fifth branch of the state bank at Lexington. 

* In November, Clay and Frelinghuysen obtained 480 majority, 
the parties then being purely whig and democrat. In 1846, the opposi- 
tion to the whig party was only limited, and their candidates were elected 
without a struggle, and the year passed quietly. In 1848, the August 
election resulted in Lafayette, in large whig majorities for state and 
county tickets, and in November, over 500 majority for Taylor and Fil- 
more. Two parties still extant. In 1850, we had an excited canvass for 
the legislature — Mr. Burden again being a candidate, and almost desper- 
ate efforts were made to defeat him. But the whigs of old Lafayette 
were true to themselves, and saved their county and party, by electing 
their entire ticket. 

In 1852, the county still remained firm, and r m August returned the 
whig candidates to the legislature. Dr. I. S. Warten and Col. R. N. 
Smith were elected by a respectable majority. In November she gave 
Scott and Graham a handsome majority. In 1854, owing to certain 
movements among our foreign guests, and the manifest ambition of many 
•naturalized citizens in the union, the 'American,' or 'know nothing' party 
was organized, and whigs and democrats abandoned their former associa- 
tions, and united with the 'dark-lantern' club. The elections all over the 
union were disastrous to any party that attempted to sustain the cause of 
foreign aspirants. Lafayette sent Wm. S. Field, Esq., and Maj. S. T. 
Niell to the legislature by large majorities. In 1856, at the August elec- 
tion, R. C. Ewing carried the county by upwards of 600 for governor, 
and the 'American' delegates to the legislature, Messrs. E. Burden and 
Wm. Morrison, were elected by nearly as large a vote. In November, 
• Filmore and Donnelson carried the county by a large vote. During the 
years of 1854, '55, '56 and '57, the Kansas imbroglio occupied a considera- 
ble share of the public attention, and attempts were made to seduce the 
^American' majority in Lafayette into new issues. All failed, however, 
and Lafayette remained true to her virtue. 

In 1858 Messrs. S. F. Taylor and E. Burden were elected delegates to 
the legislature by large majorities. There was no particular excitement, 
and the "American" candidates met with only a limited opposition. In 
1860, just past, our readers recollect all the events and results. August 
placed two constitutional union candidates in the legislature, all the union 
state and county nominees were successful; and in November Bell and 
Everett carried the vote by a triumphant majority. New issues springing 
up after the presidential election had been decided, all parties underwent 
a material change. The union party retained its organization, only losing 
a few of its former members, while at the same time large accessions were 
made from the Douglas party, and a few from Breckenridge side. The 
result on the 18th of February last proves conclusively that Lafayette is 
decidedly a constitutional union county. 



272 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

NEWSPAPERS.* 

Lexington Express. — In October of 1839, Mr. Charles Patterson issued 
the prospectus of the Lexington Express — the first newspaper published 
in Lafayette county — from the office of the paper published at Liberty, 
Clay county, Missouri, which at that time was the only paper published 
west of Boonville and Fayette. In November of the same year he went 
to Cincinnati and purchased printing material; but on account of the Ohio 
river being low his press was not shipped until February following, and 
reached Lexington in March. Mr. Patterson was assisted in his enterprise 
by Messrs. James and Robert Aull, Eldridge Burden, Samuel B. Stramcke 
and Gen. James H. Graham. On the 4th of March, 1840, the initial 
number of the Express was issued. When the prospectus was issued, 
Henry Clay was the expected whig candidate for the approaching cam- 
paign ; but in the Harrisburg convention Gen. Harrison received the nom- 
ination for president, and the Express hoisted his name to its mast-head. 
This paper was published continuously until 1861, by the successive 
administrations of Charles Patterson; Patterson and Jacob M. Julian; 
Patterson, Julian and John R. Gaut; Patterson, Julian and Wm. Mus- 
grove, Sr.; W. M. Smallwood and Julian, and Julian and R. C. Vaughan* 
It was issued as a daily during portions of 1860 and 1861, by Smallwood 
and Julian. The paper was suspended early in 1861, and the material was 
in custody of Ethan Allen at the time of the seige or battle of Lexington. 
With it he printed an " Official Bulletin," containing the reports of all the 
confederate officers, the next day after Col. Mulligan's surrender. 

Western Chronicle. — In 1848 a democratic journal was founded by Har- 
rison Branch; this was succeededby the Western Chronicle in 1850, which 
was published until after the Presidential election of 1852. 

American Citizen. — This paper was founded in 1855 by William Mus 
grove, Senior. It advocated the "Know Nothing" branch of politics; but 
after a brief existence of two years expired with its founder. 

The Expositor was established in 1856, by Yost & Stofer, who wer 
succeeded in 1858 by William Anderson, as editor. It was democratic in 
principle and its publication was continued until the latter part of 1861, 
when the greater part of their apparatus was carried away by the First 
Regiment Kansas Volunteers. 

Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian was established in Lexington in 
1850 and was edited by Rev. J. B. Logan. It was subsequently moved 
to St. Louis, where it was published until 1874; about this time it was pur- 

* We are indebted largely to the very excellent centennial 4th of July address of Wm. ' 
H. Chiles, Esq., for the facts embodied in this article. His address was delivered at the 
court house in Lexington, July 4, 1876, and afterwards published in pamphlet form as a 
"History of Lafayette County," from the Lexington Register office. But we have gathered 
many additional facts not before published. 



: 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 273 

chased by the general assembly and removed to Nashville, Tennesse, 
where it is still published. 

The Lafayette Pioneer, a German paper, was established in 1860, at 
Lexington b}' Phillip Reichert, but was soon discontinued. 

The Visitor. — This paper was edited at Waverly by Charles Patterson, 
the founder of the Express. It was established in 1858 or 59 and existed 
a little more than one year. A paper called the Waverly Express was 
puplished awhile but we could not get particulars. 

The Citizen's Daily Advertiser. — Howard S. Harbaugh started the 
above named paper in 1860, but his editorial career was soon cut short 
because of his advocacy of Abraham Lincoln for President. He was 
notifiied by the "Knights of the Golden Circle" to leave the State within 
six days of they'd hang him. He left, and afterwards became editor of 
the Chilicothe Constitution. 

When the war broke out there were but two newspapers published in 
Lexington, the Express and the Expositor, which were discontinued as 
before stated, in consequence of the unsettled condition of the times, and 
for a while there was no paper published in the city. In 1862, however, 
H. K. Davis established the Lexington Weekly Union which supported 
Gen. McClellan for President in the campaign of 1864. In 1865 it was 
changed to the Lexington Weekly Express, and that in turn gave way to 
The Caucasian in 1866, owned by Jacob M.Julian, Ethan Allen & Com-- 
pany (Wm. Musgrove, Jr.) The control of this paper was varied: Peter 
Donan and Allen; Donan and Charles J. Nesbit; Allen, Jacob T. Child, 
and Wm. Musgrove, Jr.; Donan, Reavis, Andrew Donan, and Wm. G. 
Musgrove, Jr., being successively its proprietors until it was merged into 
the Intelligencer in 1875. It was democratic in politics. 

Lexington Weekly 'Journal. — This paper was started June 9, 1864, by 
C. C. Coffinberry, editor and publisher. It was republican in politics and 
supported Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson for president and vice- 
president. The way this paper was started is worthy of record. Some 
of the decisive Union men of Lexington, thought they ought to have a 
newspaper of their own, so they clubbed together and raised money for 
the purpose, Henry Turner being their treasurer; Wm. H. Bowen went 
to St. Louis and bought the printing material, and brought up with him 
a printer to take charge as foreman. It was soon discovered that they 
had not enough printing material, so they raised $300 more and sent the 
printer man to St. Louis to buy more types; but the printer got drunk, 
and never returned with either money or types. During Gen. Price's 
raid in 1864, the paper was stopped, and the types all knocked into pi by 
guerrillas. 

In April, 1865, Col. Casper Gruber bought the material, and on the 
29th he issued the first number of a new paper called the 



274 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Lafayette Advertiser. — This paper was edited by a Rev. Mr. Craw- 
ford, a Methodist preacher, although his name did not appear. Col. Gru- 
ber's name stood at the head as "proprietor and assistant editor." Some 
time in the latter part of 1865, the paper was bought by Dr. F. Cooley 
and Lewellyn Davis; Davis became its editor, and they changed the 
name to 

Missouri Valley Register :— In 1867, Samuel S. Earle bought Dr. 
Cooley's interest. In 1868 Col. Mark L. DeMotte bought out Mr. Earle. 
In 1869 Edwin Turner, brother-in-law to Mr. Earle, bought out Mr. 
Davis. During the state election campaign of 1872, the Register being 
the republican paper and the Intelligencer (edited by L. W. Groves), the 
democratic paper, very sharp personalities were indulged in by the edi- 
tors on both sides. This resulted in personal exchange of harsh words 
between Mr. Turner and Mr. Groves when they met; and finally Edwin 
Turner shot Groves and instantly killed him, at the corner of Laurel and 
North streets, on November 8th, 1872. Turner immediately gave him- 
self up to the sheriff, Mr. Taubman, and was taken to Kansas City for 
confinement, from fear that Groves' friends would break into the jail and 
lynch Turner if he was kept at Lexington. By change of venue his trial 
was had at Kansas City; and after lying in jail there thirteen months he 
was finally acquitted on the ground of self defense, the testimony of Dr. 
J. F. Atkinson and others showing that Groves had a cocked pistol in his 
hand when he fell.* Edwin Turner still owns a half interest in the prin- 
ting office. DeMotte & Turner dropped the words "Missouri Valley" 
from the name of the paper, and called it Lexington Register ', the name it 
still bears. In 1874 Henry W. Turner bought Col. DeMotte's interest 
although the latter continued as editor until 1877. During the winter of 
1874_5 the office was burned out, losing everything; but the paper did 
not miss an issue. Two numbers were printed at The Caucasian office, 
and by that time new material had been obtained and they went ahead in 
their own office again. After Col. DeMotte left, in 1877, the paper was 
edited by Edwin Turner and Cam. B. Wilson, until August, 1881, when 
W. G. Phetzing took the editorial chair. The paper has .always been 
straight republican in politics. H. W. Turner, one of its proprietors, was 
appointed postmaster of Lexington, in April, 1877, and was reappointed 

in June, 1881. 

The Lexington Intelligencer, the organ of the democracy, was estab- 
lished in April, 1871, and was founded by Judge William Young, John 
T. Smith and R. B. Vaughan, with the first named as its editor. Sooi 
after its commencement Lafayette W. Groves bought out Smith and sue 
ceed to the editorship, which position he filled until his tragic death, in 

*The court proceedings and testimony of witnesses were all published entire in the Kan- 
sas City papers at the time. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 275 

November, 1872. During the fall of the same year, John S. Davis pur- 
chased an interest in the paper and became its publisher, it being edited 
successively, after the death of Mr. Groves, by Michael A. Steele and 
Henry L. Haynes, until its consolidation with the Caucasian, as previously 
stated, in 1S75. The paper is now owned by the corporation known as 
the "Intelligencer Printing Company," managed by Ethan Allen and W. 
G. Musgrove, Jr. Since the consolidation. Capt. A. A. Lesueur has filled 
the editorial chair of the Intelligencer. In 1879 Capt. Lesueur was elected 
to the state legislature from Lafayette county, and at this writing is still 
the incumbent. In May, 1881, he was chosen president of the state press 
association, the most honorable position known to the newspaper frater- 
nity of Missouri. Under his management the Intelligencer has won the 
reputation of being the best local weekly newspaper in the state. The 
office is supplied with one Cincinnati cylinder newspaper press and two 
Gordon jobbers, all run by steam. The origial cost of their printing 
establishment as it now stands was $15,000. 

The Aullville Times made its appearance in 1870, edited by W. H. Win- 
frey, but soon ran its brief career of a year. No other particulars 
obtained. 

The Missouri Thalbote, a German newspaper, was established in Lex- 
ington in April, 1871, by Wm. P. Beck. It was at first edited and then 
owned by R. Willibald, Willibald and John G. Fisher, and afterward by 
Egid Kist. Mr. Kist was succeed in the proprietorship by Daniel Schle- 
gal, who in turn sold out to Albert AlthofF, who subsequently removed 
the paper to Concordia, where he is still publishing it. The paper was 
originally independent in politics, but afterwards became republican, and 
so continues. 

The Dispatch. — Messrs. Jack Williams, Ed. Bowman and Cam. B. Wil- 
son conducted with success, in 1873, a sprightly little daily, named as 
above, which, however, succumbed to the great financial panic of that 
year. 

The Lafayette County Advance was established at Higginsville July 9, 
1879, by George E. King, of St. Joseph, Mo., and for the first year was 
conducted by Wm. P. King and H. H. Luce. It was then purchased by 
H. H. Luce and Frank L. Houx, who conducted the business about four 
months. Houx's interest was then bought by Mrs. Frances M. Venable, of 
Savannah, Mo., the mother of H. H. Luce, and is now owned by them 
jointly and conducted by Mr. Luce under the name of the "Advance 
Printing Company." The paper is democratic in politics, but more espec- 
ially devoted to the local interests of Higginsville and Lafayette county. 

Odessa Herald. — Nov. 13, 1880, the first number of this paper was 
issued by D. Reddington, formerly of the Mexico Herald. It is a weekly 
local paper devoted to the interests of Odessa and vicinity. 



276 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ITEMS FROM THE FIRST NEWSPAPER. 

The first newspaper ever printed in Lafayette county was issued in 
1840 by C. Patterson; but we were unable to find any copies of this paper 
of earlier date than August 1, 1843. By the kindness of Ethan Allen, Esq., 
of the Lexington Intelligencer, we had access to a file of Mr. Patterson's 
paper ( The Lexington Express), in part for the years 1843 and 1844. 
These are the oldest news sheets of this county known to be in existence. 
They are well filled with politics, general news, miscellany and advertise- 
ments, but are very meager in the matter of local items. The paper was 
devoted to the interests of the old Whig party, then under the national 
leadership of Henry Clay, of Kenmcky. The Democrats had no paper 
of their own in the county then, and so were at the mercy of their oppo- 
nents so far as any publication of their views was concerned ; but there is 
an occasional notice of their meetings, which serves to show at least that 
they had an organization in the county, although very greatly in the 
minority. This Whig paper almost unvaryingly calls them by their bur- 
lesque nickname of the time, "Locofoco." 

We have gleaned from these old papers such items as have a local his- 
toric interest for citizens of this city and county; arranging them in the 
order of their date of publication : 

August /, 184.3. — "The steamboat Edna arrived here* yesterday, in 2 
days, 15 hours and 30 minutes from St. Louis, including all stoppages for 
wood, to discharge freight, etc. This is the quickest trip ever made by a 
steamboat from St. Louis to Lexington, if we remember correctly." 

"On the Fourth of July, at Harrison ville, Van Buren county, Judge 
Ryland addressed the temperance society. At the close of the address, 
65 persons subscribed the pledge, and during that evening, 5 others; 
making in all, 70 persons, which added to the society of that county, 
makes the number about 200. A good 4th of July movement, this. A 
temperance society was organized at Clinton, Henry county, during the 
last circuit court. Rev. Wm. Horn addressed the meeting. Judge 
Ryland also added a few remarks, after which 84 persons signed the 
pledge. Let the good cause advance." 

At a Whig celebration of the Fourth of July, 1843, there were 13 
toasts given, from which we take the following: 

3d — The Union — When time is wound up, then, and not till then, may 
its days be numbered. 

9th — Tom Benton — In politics about a match for Joe Smith in religion 

11th — The Town of Lexington — Nature has done her part — let the 
citizens do theirs, and be satisfied with the Dutchman's one per cent 
instead of two. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 277 

12th — Our County — Rich, beautiful and healthy — the asparagus bed of 
Upper Missouri. 

13th — Woman — The jack-screw of creation. 

August 8, 184.3. — The population of Lexington, at the present time, is 
computed to be fully 2,000. Some think it is more. Every boat landing 
at our wharf adds its quota to this population. The accession by immi- 
gration, and otherwise, is also considerable. We have no doubt but that 
one hundred dwelling houses could be rented to new comers between this 
time and Christmas if they were erected. Nearly every house in the town, 
suitable for a residence, is now occupied and more demanded. Improve- 
ments in the way of building, we are pleased to say, are progressing 
finely, if we take into consideration the tightness of the times. Thirty or 
forty buildings (ware-houses, stores, shops and residences), it is calculated 
will be erected here during the present year. Some of them are already 
completed, others under way and others under contract. 

We copy the following from the same issue as an illustration of the jokes 
the whigs had on the democrats: 

" A gentleman traveling in the interior of our state, fell in with a rip- 
roarer from one of the wolf-scalping counties, and commenced discussing 
politics with him. He inquired who he was in favor of for president? 
* Why,' says wolf-scalp, ' I go dead for democracy.' ' Well,' inquired the 
stranger, ' which one of the democracy?' ' O,' said he, 'thar ain't but one 
democracy, and that thar's Benton — he's old democracy; the other you 
want to talk about is spurious. I tell you, stranger, thar ain't but one 
genuine democracy, and that's the old gold-bug of Missouri; he hums the 
right tune for these diggins.' " 

August 22, 184.3. — The Blue River Association of the Baptist church, 
commences its session for the present year in this place on Saturday, the 
9th day of September. 

The Presbytery for the western portion of this state will meet in this 
place on Thursday the 14th day of September, and remain in session four 
or five days. 

The conference of the Methodist E. Church for the state of Missouri, 
will convene in this place on Wednesday, the 27th day of September next. 

There is but little doubt that the western counties of this state are now 
more or less infested with horse thieves. The horses, as soon as stolen, 
are run off towards Texas and Santa Fe. 

September 3, 184^. — The patent hemp brake, owned by Mr. Poyntz, is 
now fitted up in this place, and is to be put in operation every Wednesday 
and Saturday afternoon, if the days are fair, for the inspection of the 
hemp-growers of upper Missouri. The farmers are invited to come in 
and examine said machine. 

The fourth electoral district is composed of the counties of Jackson, 



278 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Lafayette, Saline, Cooper, Miller, Morgan, Pettis, Johnson, Henry, St. 
Clair, Van Buren and Bates. 

September 12, 184.3. — We have before us an odd specimen of a beet and 
potatoe combined. It is in the form of a Mercer potatoe, and has the 
color and smell of a blood beet. It had no top, and grew in a hill with 
beets and potatoes. It grew in the garden of our townsman, Mr. Thomas 
Asberry. 

The St. Charles Advertiser says: "The U. S. snag boat, "Sampson," 
has passed up the Missouri river, drawing out many formidable snags on 
its route. It is a magnificent sight to see this river monster take hold of 
a large walnut tree six feet in diameter at the root and more than one 
hundred feet long, and fifty or sixty feet of which have been deeply 
imbedded in the mud for five hundred years, and draw it out with more 
ease than a dentist extracts a tooth ; yet, such is its daily business. The 
largest sycamores, walnuts and cottonwood are pulled out, sawed and 
set afloat in the stream. Many large trees that appear to have been 
imbedded for many hundred years, are as sound as when they first fell. 
These boats should be kept in constant operation." 

September 26, 1843. — The clerks of the steamers Lexington, John 
Aull, and lone, are each entitled to our thanks for late papers and other 
favors. 

October 3, 184.3. — The new steamer, Lexington, arrived at our landing 
on the 24th ult. She was detained several weeks on her way from Pitts- 
burg, by the extreme low stage of water in the Ohio, for the last two 
months. At last, however, the boat effected her escape, and made her 
way westward in good plight. In the name of the citizens of this place, 
we tender to Capt. Littleton their thanks for the compliment he has con- 
ferred on us, by giving his boat the name of our town. May success 
attend the "Lexington, Mo." 

November ?, 1843,^- The boats arriving at our wharf from the Ohio 
river are crowded with emigrants from the older States, all seeking a 
better home in Missouri. So also an immense immigration overland 
passes through our streets everj' day, destined for western Missouri. Let 
them come. There is room and abundance of everything; and we know 
that they will add greatly to the whig vote in November. 

We copy the following to show who were leading citizens and partisans 
at that time: 

Pursuant to a previous notice, a large number of the whigs of Lafay- 
ette county assembled in the Christian church in Lexington, on the 6th 
day of November, 1843, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the 
district convention for the 4th electoral district in Missouri. The meeting 
was organized by calling Judge Young Ewing to the chair, and appoint- 
ing C. Patterson secretary. By request, Jno. P. Campbell, Esq., arose 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 279 

and explained in a brief but eloquent manner, the object of the meeting,, 
urging diligence and energy among its members and the friends of the 
whig cause throught the Slate and Union. 

On motion of Mr. James Aull, the chair appointed a committe of seven, 
one from each municipal township of the county, to draft a preamble and 
resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting and its purposes. 
Whereupon the following gentlemen were selected by the chair to consti- 
tute said committee, viz: James Aull, Wm. Simpson, Col. T. M. Ewing, 
Strother Renick, A. W. Ridings, W. H. Anderson, and B. F. Tantis. 
On motion, J. P. Campbell, Esq., was added to the committee. 
During a brief absence of the committee, the meeting was addressed 
by E. S. Burden and P. D. Hockaday, Esqs., and Major S. T. NeilL 
[Resolutions omitted.] 

The chair appointed the following gentlemen, in pursuance of the res- 
olution above reported as delegates to the district convention to be held in 
Warrensburg on the 20th day of the present month, viz: 

Clay township — Col. W. Y. C. Ewing, Strother Renick, Fountain 
Livesay, James Pearson, Dr. Wm. Ward, Peter Wolfe, Wm. L. Evans, 
Jas. W. Renick, Judge Nath. Price, John D. Richardson, Reuben E. San- 
ders, and Jas. M. Halloway. 

Lexington township — John P. Campbell, P. D. Hockaday, Geo. H. 
Gordon, H. Lightner, C. Patterson, H. C. Boteler, Jas. Aull, Wm. Mus- 
grove, Dr. Letton, B. Sanders, C. Osborn, H. Smock, and on motion the 
chair was added to the list. 

Dover towship — Dr. Jas. Warren, Geo. W. Hillman, Dr. J. B. Vivion, 
M. W. Obannon, W. Hall, John G. Ridge, Thos. J. White, John Tearby, 
James S. Plattenburg, and A. S. Harris. 

Sniabar township— James Walton, James W. Manion, Alex. Cheatham, 
Wm. Bullard, Archibald Scott, and A. W. Ridings. 

Davis township — James Drummond, S. T. Neill, Joseph H. Bledsoe, 
Nathan Corder, Geo. B. Warren and Alfred Nicholas. 

Freedom township — W. H. Anderson, John Walker, James Atterburg, 
T. J. Hawkins, A. Hargrove, and H. C. Davis. 

Washington township— Capt. Wm. Bryant, Major J. H. Fulkerson, 
Col. Wm. P. Walton, N. W. Letton, Major L. H. Renick, and Col. T. 
M. Ewing. 

On motion of Col. T. M. Ewing, Messrs. Jas. Aull, John P. Campbell, 
John T. Richardson, Henry C. Boteler, V. Burgess, and Arnold T. Win- 
sor, were appointed delegates from this county to the Young Men's Con- 
vention to be held in Baltimore in May next. 

November 7, 184.3. — Distances from St. Louis to places on the Missouri 
River: From St. Louis to Fine's Landing, (a few miles above the present 
town of Waverly) 329; Dover Landing, (about two miles below present 






280 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

town of Berlin) 334; Lexington, 344; Wellington, 350; Wolfs Landing, 
359; Napoleon, 375. 

December ip, 184.3. — The annual meeting of the Lexington Temperance 
Society, will be held on the 25th inst., (Christmas Day,) at the Baptist 
church in this place. The Rev. Mr. Ligon is expected to address the 
meeting. 

December 23, 184.3. — Last Monday about 100 wagons came into this 
place, loaded with the produce of the surrounding country. 

Never, since we have noticed the seasons and their changes, has a 
milder and more agreeable December passed over our heads — the weather 
for three weeks has been delightful. The sun, to-day, is shining bright 
and clear, and under foot the earth is dry and dusty. How long this fine 
weather will last is another matter. The river is now low, but we think 
there is water enough for the smaller boats. 

February 10, 1844. — Notice is hereby given to the citizens of the north 
side of the Missouri River, that an arrangement has been entered into 
with the Messrs. Pomeroys, of the Lexington Ferry, by which all traders 
from the north side, together with their produce and teams, will be crossed 
and recrossed free of charge for twelve months. The only items excluded 
under this contract, are fire wood, rails and loose cattle. 

The subject of debate for the Lexington Lyceum next Tuesday even- 
ing, will be: " Should the fine imposed on Gen. Jackson by Judge Hall at 
New Orleans, be refunded." The ladies and gentlemen are respectfully 
invited to attend. 

April 6, 1844. — The logs for the " Cabin " have been cut, and arrange- 
ments made for their delivery on the bank on the upper end of Water 
street. Due notice will be given of the " raising." Subscriptions to meet 
the expenses in building the " Cabin," making the " Flag," and procuring 
a " cannon," are still wanted. [A log cabin was the peculiar emblem of 
the Whig party]. — Historian. 

The materials for the new Presbyterian church are being prepared, and 
the body of the building will be completed during the coming summer. 

Houses are now in demand, and we know of no point on the Missouri 
where capitalists could make more profitable investments in the line of 
building. Every store, house and dwelling in the place is now occupied. 

A stage passenger yesterday morning, direct from Jefferson City, brings 
the intelligence that the Locofoco Convention, which assembled there on 
the 1st, have nominated John C. Edwards, Esq., for Governor, and Col. 
James Young, of this county, for Lieutenant-Governor. 

Last week upwards of $11,000 in cash was paid out for hemp by the 
merchants of this place; and for this week we are within bounds in stat- 
ing that $10,000 have been paid. The highest notch to which the article 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 281 

has gone since the opening of navigation, was $3.50. We quote for this 
day, a good article of hemp at $3.37i; for second rate $3.25. 

April ij, 184.4.. — We are authorized to announce Lillburn W. Bogg, 
Esq., as a candidate for the office of Governor of the State or Missouri, at 
the approaching August election. 

April 20, 1844. — We stated a short time since, that a deputation from 
the Grand Lodge of Missouri, I. O. O. F., was expected to visit this 
place, to establish a lodge of the Order, &c. This duty, we understand, 
was performed on last Thursday evening by William S. Stewart, of St. 
Louis, Deputy Grand Sire of the United States for this district. 

May 7, 184.4. — The steamer Western Belle lay at this landing all day 
yesterday, receiving freight. We are informed that between 120 and 130 
tons of hemp were shipped on board of her to St. Louis by one house. 

The first number of the Harry of the West was issued last Friday. 

The new steam flouring mill recently erected in this place, by Messrs. 
"Waddell and Hudson, we understand, will commence operation about the 
first of July. The mill contains four run of French burs. 

May 21, 1844. — The steamer Western Belle will take the Lafayette 
county delegation to St. Louis and back, and board while in St. Louis, for 
six dollars each, the boat to furnish a good band of music and a gun. 

The army worm is now doing much damage to the growing crops and 
gardens in this vicinity. They are very severe on the gardens in this 
place. The only remedy for them is a change of weather; dry weather 
and a warm sun will destroy them. Much hemp will have to be resown 
and corn replanted. 

May 28, 1844. — M R - Patterson: Please publish the following list of 
names of the ladies who subscribed to the Whig Banner: Mesdames L. 
Stratton, Boulware, E. Bullard, Bliss, Alvin Chadwick, George Thomas, 
Eliza Robinson, E. Wiley, Russell, Andsrson, Bennett, Whelan, H. Chad- 
wick, Martha Royle, Fitzpatrick, Fall, Stone, Ligon, Aull, Henderson, A. 
Mundy, R. H Renick, Lucinda Day, M. Soister, Silver, N. Waddell, B. 
G. Chinn, M. M. Hockiday, Warren, Wentworth, J. P. Bowman, S. P. 
Patterson, M. Spratt, Mary Gaunt, Georgietta Gaunt, Locke, E. C. Wal- 
lace, Mary Donohoe, Catlett, Sawyer, M. B. Waddell, Asbury, Mary 
Stone, Abigail Warder, Ellen Waddell, Sarah Jones, M. B. Williams, 
Pomeroy, Susan Waddell, H. Bledsoe, Misses J. Hale, Elizabeth Aull, C. 
Wilson, K. M. Renick, E. A. Waddell, M. A. Buckner, A. G. Wallace, 
M. Royce, S. S. Blackwell, Lavina Letton, Ann Asbury, Scott, Mary 
Livesay. 

yum 4, 1844. — We are pleased to say that several new buildings are 
now under way in this place. We hope the improvements will advance 
sufficiently to supply the demand for houses. 

Lexington races — Second Day —Two mile heats; purse, $200, won by 



282 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

James Shy's gr. c. Billy Tonson, four years old, by Mons. Tonson, beat- 
ing Wendover, by Medoc, Magdalen, by Medoc, Isola, by Bertrand, and 
distancing three others. Time, 3:58, 3:53£ 

Third Day — Mile heats ; won by Farris' ch. f . Liz. Tillett, three years 
old, by Frank, beating b. c, by Gray Eagle. Time, 1 :51, 1:54^. 

Fourth Day — Two mile heats; sweepstakes, $50 entrance; silver 
pitcher, valued at $50, added. Won by J. R. Smith's ch. c. Gold Eagle, 
beating Edward Eagle, by Grey Eagle, and distancing two others. Time, 
3:58, 3:50. 

June ii, 184.4.. — [This paper contains an account of a grand rally of all 
the Clay clubs in the state at St. Louis, on June 4, 1844. It was the 
grandest thing of the kind that had ever been held in the state up to that 
time. Twenty-one organizations with banners took part in the proces- 
sion. The St. Louis Republican has this to say of the Lafayette county 
club's banner: " This banner is deserving of more than a passing notice. 
It was worked by the fair ladies of Lexington, and by them presented to 
the club, who bore it in the procession. The whole banner was got up 
with a taste characteristic of their ladies, and their handiwork in this, as in 
«very similar case, bore off the palm. The Lexington Banner was unan- 
imously pronounced the most beautiful in the procession." 



EVENTS AND INCIDENTS BY YEARS. 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN 1837. 

Wetmore's Gazetted- of Missouri was published in 1837, (printed by 
Harper & Brothers, N. Y.,) and it contains some items of historic interest 
for Lafayette county which we quote. / 

"Five saw mills and five gristmills are driven by water power, in the 
county of Lafayette." The region about Dover village was called Tare 
Bean (beautiful land) grove; in this grove was a grist mill driven by the 
water from a large spring, but owner's name is not given. At Lexington 
there was a United States land office, and the author further says: 

Lexington is one of the towns from which outfits are made in mer- 
chandise, mules, oxen, and wagons for the Santa Fe or New Mexico 
trade. The fur traders who pass to the mountain by land make this town 
a place of rendezvous, and frequently are going out and coming in with 
their wagons and packed mules, at the same period of going and coming 
that is chosen by the Mexican traders. Lexington is therefore, occasion- 
ally, a thoroughfare of traders of great enterprise, and caravans of infinite 
value. The dress and arms of the traders, trappers, and hunters of these 
caravans, and caparison of the horses and mules they ride, present as 
great diversity as the general resurrection itself of all nations and ages can 
promise for the speculations of the curious. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 283 

Wetmore's book contained a table of the population of the state by 
counties, from which we quote: 

Lafayette county population in 1821, 1340; 1830, 2912; 1836, 4683. 

Lexington is given as 319 miles bv river from St. Louis. Fine's Land- 
ing (in Lafavette county,) is put at 15 miles below Lexington. There 
were at this time only three postoffices in the county: 

Lexington, James Aull, postmaster; Dover, Benjamin F. Yates, post- 
master; Pleasant Grove, W. H. Ewing, postmaster. 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN vVAR — 1846. 

In May, 1846, a company was formed at Lexington to join Col. Doni- 
phan's regiment, and was mustered as company B. The following were 
the men from Lafayette county, and their present locations are as follows: \ 

Capt. William Walton, deceased; 1st Lieut., Booth Barnett, deceased; 

2d Lieut., Kirkpatrick, killed at the battle of Sacramento; 1st Ser., 

Thomas Hinkel, unknown; H. J. Mallory, lives in Dover township; G. W. 
Vivion, lives in Davis township, at Higginsville; Baxter D. Kavanagh, 
lives in ray county; Isaac Braden, lives in Clay township; George King, 
deceased; John Boykakin, wounded at the battle of Bracito; John Ridge, 
deceased; Wm. Osborn, deceased; B. W. Coffee, deceased; Jacob Ridge, 
deceased; Wm. Cromwell, lives at Fort Worth, Texas; Upton Winsor, 
deceased; Jere Bear, lives in Kansas City; John Musick, deceased; W. B. 
Tyrce, deceased; H. M. Bledsoe, lives in Cass county, was commander of 
"Bledsoe's Battery," so famous in the-late war; Wm. Nelson, lives in Car- 
roll county; Joseph Chinn, jailor at Lexington; Buck Chinn, deceased; 
Alex. Green, resides in Saline county; Daniel Horn, deceased; Thomas 
Hughes, deceased; John McDougal,now resides in Dover township; Wm. 
Hale, lives at Lexington ; Wm. Chancellor, lives at Lexington. 

Col. Doniphan's command consisted of 1,000 mounted men; they 
marched over land from Fort Leavenworth, by the way of Sante Fe, to 
the city of Mexico. They took with them quite a number of cattle and 
sheep. The Indians kept up a continuous raid upon them to get posses- 
sion ol their stock, and at one time stole away 1,000 sheep; they pursued 
the Indians for three days, but failed to recover the mutton. They were 
at the battles of Bracito and Sacramento, and numerous skirmishes on the 
march. At the battle of Sacramento a Major Campbell of Lafayette 
county was with them, though not belonging to any command. He 
appears to have been in Mexico on some trading enterprise. Col. Doni- 
phan's regiment received very high praise from Gen. Taylor, and also 
from Gen. Wool for its gallant action and brilliant success at Sacramento, 
part of which of course belonged to our Lafayette men. [See article 
headed "Lafayette men's first battle," 1861, for an account of a famous 
cannon captured at Sacramento by Col. Doniphan.] There was a com- 




284 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

pany of ninety men from Saline county. When the regiment's time (one 
year) was out, a detail was made of three men from each company, 30 in 
all, to bring back their horses, numbering about 700, over land from 
Camargo to Missouri, while the rest took steamboat at New Orleans, 
where they were mustered out, and came up the river. The Lafayette 
men who came over land with the horses, were Vivion, Braden and Kav- 

anaugh. 

James Aull of Lexington went out with Col. Doniphan's regiment, not 
in the capacity of sutler, as has been believed by many, but merely as a 
private trader. While the troops were at Chihuahua (pronounced she- 
wah-waJi) he opened a store; and when the}^ moved on to join Gen. Tay- 
lor the Lexington men advised Mr. Aull not to stay back there alone, for 
the Mexicans would kill him; but he decided to take the risk, and did 
stay, and in a short time the Mexicans did kill him. This was in the 
spring of 1847. 

events in 1847. 

February 3, 1847, John F. Ryland, Street Hale, Wm. T. Wood, Hen- 
derson Young, Wm. Early and James Crump were appointed commis- 
sioners to propose a plan for a new court house to be erected in the city 
of Lexington. 

February 2, 1847, John Payne was appointed overseer for a road in 
Freedom and Davis townships, commencing at Christopher Mulky's sign 
board, and running by Nathan Corder's saw mill, and intersecting the 
salt works road at the northwest corner of Wm. C. Barns' farm. This 
shows the rude style of waymarks and boundaries at that time. 

The following item will have a historic interest to the younger class 
now, and to future citizens of the county: January 4, 1847, the county 
court makes this record: " Now at this day comes Harriet, a free mulatto 
woman, wife of Henry Dorsey, a free mulatto man, and makes applica- 
tion to the court here for a license to reside within this state; and it appear- 
ing to the satisfaction of the court here, that said Harriet is of the class of 
persons who may obtain such license. It is therefore ordered that a 
license be issued authorizing the said Harriet, (aged about 32 years, five 
feet and one inch high, with a scar in the palm of the left hand,) and also 
the two children of the said Harriet and said Henry Dorsey, to-wit: 
Charlotte Ann, aged about 13 years, and Ellen Chester, 4 years old, to 
reside within this state as long as she, the said Harriet shall be of good 
behavior, and no longer. " 

STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION — 1851. 

The river was high, a good deal of ice floating, and the steamboat 
" Saluda," with a heavy load of freight and crowded with Mormon emi- 
grant passengers, had tried in vain for two or three days to stem the cur- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 285 

rent and get away from Lexington. On Friday, April 9th, the captain 
determined to make another desperate effort to go on up the river, and 
ordered an extra pressure of steam to be carried. About 9 o'clock the 
signal was given to start, and at the second revolution of the wheel both 
boilers burst at once, blowing the boat all to slivers forward of the wheel- 
house, so that she sunk immediately. The captain and clerk were blown 
half way up the bluff, and two pilots as far the other way out into the 
river and instantly killed. The boat's iron safe, weighing about six hun- 
dred pounds, with a dog chained to it, was thrown clear over the levee 
warehouse and part way up the bluff. Eighty-three persons were buried 
at Lexington from this wreck, and it was never known how many more 
bodies were lost in the river. 

EVENTS in 1856. 

This' was the historic year of the Kansas troubles, which form a 
marked period in Lafayette county history. In August of this year, a 
handbill, headed " War in Kansas," and calling a meeting of citizens of 
Lafayette county at Lexington, August 20, 1856, was widely circulated. 
It contained about one and a half coumns of ordinary newspaper matter, 
reciting many bad things the abolitionists were reported to have done in 
Kansas; and then made a strong appeal for volunteers, from which we 
quote: 

Now, men of Lafayette, what will you do? Will you stand still and see 
the enemy approach, step by step, until he stands upon your door-sill and 
finds you unarmed, or will you go out to meet him, and drive him from 
your soil. We have stood still long enough. The time has come when 
we must do something to protect our firesides. * *. We must have 
men to go to the territorv immediately, or all will be lost. The intention of 
the abolitionist is to drive us from the territory and carry the next election 
and get possession of the reins of government. This we must not sub- 
mit to. If we do, Kansas is lost to the south forever, and our slaves in 
upper Missouri will be useless to us, and our homes must be given up to 
the abolition enemy. Come, then, to the rescue! Up, men of Lafyette! 
Meet at Lexington on Wednesday, at 12 o'clock, August 20. Bring your 
horses with you, your guns and your clothing — all ready to go on to 
Kansas. * *. We want two hundred to three hundred men from this 
county. Jackson, Johnson, Platte, Clay, Ray, Saline, Carroll, and other 
counties are now acting in this matter. All of them will send up a com- 
pany of men, and there will be a concert of action. New Santa Fe, in 
Jackson county, will be the place of rendezvous for the whole crowd, and 
our motto this time will be 'no quarter;' etc., etc. 

This was signed by twelve well known citizens. The meeting was 
held, and a company sent. This is a historic incident which shows the 
feeling and action of Lafayette county at that time; a copy of the original 
handbill referred to being before us. Persons wishing to investigate the 

F 



286 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

subject further, in its political relations and aspects, will find the pro- 
slavery or southern view, in Pollard's " Lost Cause" chapter IV; the 
anti-slavery or northern view, in Greeley's " American Conflict" Vol. 1, 
chapter XVII; the Missouri statesman's view, in Col. Benton's " Thirty 
years in the United States Senate" Vol. II. 

ASSESSMENTS FOR BUSHWHACKER DAMAGES — 1862. 

It would take a volume by itself to give all the official orders, proclama- 
tions, and other public documents affecting Lafayette county, during the 
war time. But a few pertinent extracts will serve to show some impor- 
tant features of the situation. On June 23, 1862, Gen. Schofield issued 
his general order No. 3, from which we quote: 

II. The sum of $5,000 for every soldier or union citizen killed; from 
$1,000 to $5,000 for every one wounded; and the full value of all prop- 
erty destroyed or stolen, by guerrillas, will be assessed and collected from 
the rebels and rebel sympathizers residing in the vicinity of the place where 
the act is committed. 

The order provided that the money collected in such cases should be 
paid to the legal heirs, or els^ the person suffering the injury or loss. 
Also, that division commanders should appoint a civil board in each 
county, to " consist of not less than three members, who will be selected 
from the most respectable and reliable citizens of the county, who will 
take an oath to discharge faithfully and impartially all the duties required 
of them by this order." Then each board must " proceed to enroll all 
the residents and property-holders of the county who have actively aided 
or encouraged the present rebellion." If an assessment was made, and 
not paid within the time allowed by the board, then property was to be 
seized and sold till the amount was realized. Another paragraph said: 

In making an assessment of damages, the Board will be governed by 
the wealth of an individual, and his known activity in aiding the rebellion 
— particularly in countenancing and encouraging guerrillas, robbers, and 
plunderers of the loyal people. Each county Board will keep an accurate 
record of its proceedings, and will send a duly certified copy of each case 
to District Headquarters. 

It was more than a month after Gen. Schofield had issued the above 
order before it was enforced in Lafayette county. This county was then 
embraced in the Central Division, under Gen. Totten, with headquarters 
at Jefferson City. And on Aug. 6th he issued ; ' Special Orders No. 140," 
in which he said: "The following named gentlemen, citizens of Lafayette 
county, are appointed and hereby announced as the ' County Board ' for 
said county, to wit.: R. C. Vaughan, Wm. Spratt, Eldridge Burden, John 
F. Neill, John F. Eneberg." They were required immediately to " meet 
in Lexington and organize for business." And all officers and soldiers, 
whether of U. S. army or state militia, were " ordered to render said 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 287 

Board protection and assistance in the execution of their duties, whenever 
and wherever called upon." 

At that time Col. Dan. Huston, Jr., was in command of Lexington post; 
and, on August Sth he issued his " General Orders No. 13," saying: " All 
persons in the county of Lafayette who have suffered any loss of property, 
or injury to person, since the date of said Orders, (Gen. Schofield's Order 
No. 3, above cited,) or may hereafter sustain injury or loss of property, 
are hereby notified to report the circumstances of their several cases to 
these headquarters, in order that assessments may be made to indemnify 
them." 

The next day, August 9th, the county Board published a card, with 
their names signed to it, announcing their appointment as such Board, and 
that they intended " promptly and fearlessly to discharge their duty 
without favor or affection." 

May 6, 1862, Capt. N. Cole, then commanding Lexington post, had 
issued a circular, composed of extracts from sundry general orders, to 
show the people what the military were authorized or required to do. 
From this document we quote a few points: " Treasonable language is to 
be punished, upon trial and sentence by a military commission, under the 
charge of ' encouraging rebellion against the government of the United 
States, while enjoying its protection.' Neither sex nor age (after the age 
of legal responsibility) will be overlooked. All must be taught to obey 
and respect the laws of the land, or submit to punishment for their dis- 
loyalty, whether it consist in word, act or deed." Any who had been in 
arms under Gen. Price but had returned to their homes, were required to 
" surrender themselves to the military authority, and give bonds for their 
future loyal conduct, or they will be arrested and tried as spies, being 
within the lines of our army, and in citizen's dress;" etc., etc. (These 
were from Orders issued by Gen. Halleck.) 

June 18th, Col. Dan Huston, Jr., being in command at Lexington at this 
date, issued his General Orders No. 9, in which he notifies all who have 
been in arms against the U. S. government, to report themselves to the 
provost marshal and take the oath of loyalty and give bond for their 
future good conduct, or " they will be considered as spies," etc. 

And he says further — 

" III. All bushwhackers or guerrillas taken with arms in their hands or 
without arms, will be shot upon the spot where they are found. Command- 
ing officers are strictly enjoined to enforce this order rigorously. (General 
\ Orders No. 18, by Gen. Schofield, May 29th.) 

The bushwacker devilment had been carried on with impunitv, until it 
had become an absolute necessity for the government authorities to out- 
law them, and the soldiers to hunt them down just as they would hunt 
ravenous wild beasts. And a knowledge of the above and similar official 



288 histora of lafayette county. 

orders is necessary to an understanding of many things done by the state 
militia which are still matters of bitter remembrance in Lafayette county. 

The military body known as "enrolled militia" was provided to secure 
an organized local police under the militia laws of the state, for prompt 
and ready action against the bushwhackers and guerrillas. General 
orders No. 19, issued July 22, 1862, said: 

"An immediate organization of all the militia of Missouri is hereby 
ordered, for the fair-pose of exterminating the guerrillas that infest the 
state." Every man, subject to military duty, was required to report him- 
self, bringing whatever arms he had, or could procure, and be enrolled. 
And it was ordered that "all arms and ammunition of whatsoever kind, 
and wherever founds not in the hands of the loyal militia, will be taken 
possession of by the latter, and used for the public defense. Those who 
have no arms, and cannot procure them in the above manner, will be sup- 
plied, as quickly as possible, by the ordnance department." 

These extracts are sufficient to show the animus of the order, which 
was promulgated by Gen. Schofield, with the indosement and sanction of 
the governor, H. R. Gamble. In Lafayette county, probably not one- 
third of the population was, at that time, on the union side; and the work- 
ing of the above orders, in such a community, can be readily imagined. 
It was grim-visaged war, glaring and scowling, at every man's door. 

ENROLLED MILITIA PETITION — 1862. 

To the Honorable the County Court of Lafayette County : 

We, the undersigned citizens of Lafayette county, most respectfully ask 
your honorable court to appropriate a reasonable sum out of any money 
of the county treasury, not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of pur- 
chasing suitable clothing, blankets, etc., for the militia who have or may 
enroll themselves as militiamen, in Lafayette county, under the late order 
of Gov. Gamble: 

William Spratt, Franklin Winkler, Edgar Youngs, C. B. Shelton, J. J. 
Perdur, Hillory Simcox, Jerry Goodwin, W. S. Payne, D. G. Prigmore, 
James B. Johnson, Benj. Pointer, Henry Brockman, W. C. Long, Samuel 
Norris, Samuel Vanhook, James Ware, Gilbert Pointer, B. Whitworth, 
I. M. Hickman, D. Worthington, William Cain, B. H. Wilson, W. H. 
Wert, H. M. Simcock, J. M. Gain, William Lake, Uriah Farrell, J. B. 
Taggart, S. G. Wentworth, R. M. Henderson, H. F. Coolege, John F. 
Nielle, James L. Pointer, Samuel J. Drysdale, William H. Meinecke, 
Frederick Bruns, G. Brockmann, L. Shinkle, S. S. Earle, W. L. Hick- 
man, David Tevis, David M. Welborn, J. W. Zeiler, G. Clayton, John E. 
Bascom, R. C. Vaughn, A. Persiver, S. F. Currie, Harrison Smith, John 
R. Runyon, Street Hale, James Hays, J. A. Price, Charles Bergmaster, 
John E. Ryland, C. A. Bussen, William H. Davis, M. Morrison, Thomas 
Adamsen, Thomas B. Clagett, John B. Alexander, P. W. Whittlesey, J. 
H. Delap, A. Hoffuth, E. Burden, William Spratt, John F. Neille, Alex. 
Mitchell, C. H. McPheeters, Henry Turner, W. H. Bowen, Oscar V. 
Purdue, J. J. McConicks, W. B. Waddell, John Peffer, E. Winsor, Thos. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 289 

Wemwee, Henry A. Self, D. Leny, John B. Fleming, E. Stratton, Strather 
Renick, E. W. Carpenter, W. D. Wainright, S. T. Went worth, G. M. 
Jaques, S. H. Graham, Frederick Zeigler, John Kirkpatrick, Washington 
Johnson, D. W. B. Lewis, William H. Davis, J. A. Price, F. Cooledge, 
James W. Waddle, Jr. 

On the back of the petition the following note is written: 

"John F. Ryland* says, wait, and see how much can be spared, and is 
needed. Not to exceed two thousand dollars now." 

[This paper was filed August 6, 1862.] 

August 25, 1862, the county court passed an order to issue $5,000 of 
county bonds at 10 per cent, interest, to " be expended in the purchase of 
blankets, clothing, tents, etc., for the militia companies raised and to be 
raised in the said county of Lafayette, for the purpose of putting down 
and suppressing the inhuman guerrilla warfare in our county and state." 
Jesse Schofield, one of the county judges, was appointed agent in this 
matter. 

In November Judge Schofield reported that he had sold the bonds at 
par, and used the money as follows: 

Two bonds of $1,000 each to Farmers' bank of Missouri.. $2,000. 00 

One bond to Wm. H. Ewing for 500.00 

One bond to Christian Catron for 400 .00 

One bond to John Catron for 300.00 

One bond to S. G. Wentworth for 500.00 

Three bonds to Wm. Cain, two for $500 each and one for 

$300 1,300.00 



Amount of bonds sold at par $5,000 . 00 

CONTRA. 

Paid out for blankets, clothing, etc. (vouchers filed) $4,794.33 

Expenses to St. Louis to make purchases ....!.... 35 . 25 

Discount on Farmers' Bank notes 103.43 



Total expenditure $4,960.01 

Balance on hand 39 . 99 

Jesse Schofield, Agent. 
Lexington, Mo., Nov. j, 1862. 

The balance was used up afterwards. 

events in 1863. 
In April, 1863, Lieut. Col. King, with one hundred soldiers from Lex- 
ington Post, killed four bushwhackers, named Joe Fickel (brother of the 
l noted Miss Anna Fickel), Wagoner, and two Wingates, near the house 
. of Wm. Holmes; about fifteen miles southwest of the city on the road to 
" Chapel Hill. Others of the gang escaped. 
\ * Ryland was then judge of the circuit court. 



^h( 



290 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Sept. 9, 1863, a man named Carlyle, one of Quantrell's band, who had 
been captured after the massacre at Lawrence, Kansas, was executed by. 
the military at Lexington, Col. B. F. Lazear commanding. 

In 1863 Dr. J. F. Atkinson was post surgeon, and his report of Nov. 
28 showed 40 sick aud wounded in hospital — then known as the " Ander- 
son house," but now owned by Tilton Davis, Esq. 

Sept. 14, 1863, an order was promulgated for a commutation tax on all 
who refused to serve in the "enrolled Missouri Militia;" and the order 
said: "The district commander shall cause all such persons to be arrested 
without delay, and require them to perform militia duty until said tax is 
fully discharged." Brig. Gen. R. C. Vaughan, of Lexington, was then 
commanding the fifth military district, E. M. M., which included Lafay- 
ette county, and M. Chapman was his adjutant. 

The law under which this order was made was part of the act or ordi- 
nance to provide for the issuance and ultimate payment of the union 
defense bonds of Missouri; and many of our citizens had promptly paid 
the tax long before the above order in regard to delinquents was issued. 
The Lexington Union of June 6 says: 

The following persons have paid their exemption fee within the last 
week : 

James P. Reinhard $ 30 . 05 A. Brockman $30 . 00 

C.B.Russell 112.50 Henry Koopman 30.50 

John W. White 56.00 Henry Allers 30.00 

Gilbert Jennings 81 . 20 Martin Goodwin 31 . 50 

Charles L. Ewing 68.50 D. J. Walers 43.75 

A. F. Sheets 30.00 Thomas R. James 30.00 

A.J.Armstrong 30.00 John Johnson 53.75 

T. Brockman 36.25 L.B.Gordon 63.00 

J. W. Graddy 58.50 W. H. Grigsby 30.00 

Henry Oetting 36.00 Daniel Roberts 30.00 

We did not find any other reports in regard to this matter. 

events in 1864. 

On Monday evening, February 22, a couple of Federal soldiers, going 
home on furlough, stopped for the night at Arthur G. Young's house, 
five miles out from Lexington, on the Sedalia road. About ten o'clock in 
the night, five bushwhackers came and captured these two men, tied their 
hands behind them, took them out into a field and shot them. One was 
a sick old man, name or residence not known, as the murderers took away 
all money and papers he had. They had shot him just over the left eye. 
The other man was Elzy Sanders, of Independence, Jackson county, who 
had enlisted in the 6th Kansas Volunteers, at Westport, Missouri, in 
May, 1863. The bodies were brought into Lexington and buried by the 
military. 

The following incident is historic: 



history of lafayette county. 291 

September 29, 1864. 
To the Commander of Post, Lexington : 

We, M. L. Belt and David Pool, commanding- Confederate forces, 
demand an immediate surrender of the city, in the name of the Confed- 
eracy. If the surrender is made, citizens and their property will be 
respected and all soldiers paroled. If it is not made, we will burn the 
town, and kill all men that fire upon us. » 

Respectfully, 

Belt & Pool. 

As Belt and Pool were not confederate soldiers in the regular way, 
but only bushwhackers, Lieut. Shumate, then in command of the post, 
made no official reply, but told the alarmed citizens to "let them come on, 
we're ready for them!" They had compelled Mr. Lewis Smallwood to 
bring in their note. Alarm bells were immediately rung and the Home 
Guards mustered promptly at the call. The bushwhackers came up 
Franklin as far as Oak street, but were met and driven back by a few 
men under command of Serg. Stone of Co. M. 1st M. S. M. One bush- 
whacker was shot through the shoulder and another had his horse killed. 
They robbed Mr. Kellerman's store in Old Town, and took Mr. Small- 
wood's horse from him, and made their escape. 

August 10, 1864, the doctors of the county adopted a rule to increase 
their charges 50 per cent, for medicines and medical services, owing to 
the general increase of prices. It may be interesting to see who were 
our doctors at that time, and here is the list: Wm. T. Lamkin, M. M. 
Robinson, A. B. Hereford, D. K. Murphy, O. F. Renick, B. D. Ragland, 
W. H. Ruffin, J. Bull, J. F. Atkinson, W. P. Boulware, Geo. W. Love, 
J. B. Alexander, F. Cooley, G. W. Young, John Vaughn, T. S. Smith, 
S. P. Smith, M. Chapman, Thomas H. Bolton. 

In 1864 Gen. W. S. Rosecrans passed through Lexington on his way 
to the Little Blue, and while here he appointed Dr. Boulware as surgeon, 
in charge of the Federal hospital, in the Anderson House, Dr. Atkinson 
being then on duty in St. Louis. 

TWO WOMEN CONSPIRATORS. 

The Lexington Union of February 27th, 1864, contains the following 
bloody incident: 

It will be remembered by our readers that some time in December last, 
Otho Hinton, a noted guerrilla and robber, was captured at Mrs. Neill's, 
twelve miles from this city, on the Sedalia road. Hinton was kept closely 
guarded with ball and chain attached, until last Monday night, when he 
was killed hy his guard. The facts are as follows: 

Blount, the captain of the band of guerrillas to which Hinton belonged, 
entered into a conspiracy with Miss Anna Fickel, daughter of Helvy H. 
Fickel, near Greenton, Mrs. Ann Reid, of this city, and a soldier whom 
they believed they had bribed, to kill the guard and rescue the prisoner. 
The soldier was to have it so arranged that the prisoner, at precisely 



292 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

seven o'clock, on Monday evening, would be at Mrs. Reid s house, which 
is near the college, where the prisoners are kept, under the pretext of get- 
ting his supper; the soldier of course to be ignorant of what was going 
on. The time rolled round, and prompt to the moment, Hinton, under 
guard of Sergeant Kinkead, walked down to Mrs. Reid's, where every- 
thing was arranged as had been preconcerted, and as their supposed 
accomplice had stated it would be. 

The signal to commence and plan of carrying out the conspiracy was as 
follows: At precisely seven o'clock Mrs. Reid was to step into another 
room, when Hinton was to gather up his ball and chain and propose to 
his guard to return to the guard house, and at the same time to advance to 
the door, open it, and step leisurely out and to one side, and as the guard 
came out he was to be met and killed by Blount, the guerrilla, and John 
Burns, a member of Company I, 5th Prov. Reg. E. M. M. They were 
to cut the guard's throat if possible, otherwise to shoot him, then remove 
Hinton's shackles, and take him away. Mrs. Reid, at the appointed 
time, stepped into the adjoining room. Hinton gathered his ball and chain 
and proposed to return, and advanced to the door, but no sooner had he 
placed his hand upon the latch than Sergeant Kinkead fired and killed 
him. 

The soldier who disclosed the whole plan to Lieut. Kessinger, the com- 
mander of the post, was with the lieutenant and Captain Johnson, who, 
with a dozen men were laying in ambush one hundred yards from Mrs. 
Reid's house, waiting for the approach of the guerrillas. In a few min- 
utes after Hinton was killed, Burns and Blount came walking up instead 
of being on horseback, as was expected they would, and the officers sup- 
posing them to be soldiers and ignorant of what was going on, halted 
them. Burns answered, " I am a friend." Lieut. Kessinger replied, 
"Advance friend and give the countersign." Burns advanced boldly; 
Blount kept his position while Burns approached. Billy Savins, the noble 
boy, whom they had attempted with women and money to bribe, recog- 
nized Burns (he had served in the same company with him), and at the 
top of his voice cried out, "Blount and Burns! shoot!" Burns was 
instantly killed, but Blount wheeled and ran. Volley after volley was fired 
at him, but without effect. He ran through gardens, over ravines and 
was pursued by Cavalry. He jumped Judge Tutt's high paling fence, 
and at this moment, young Asher, of company H, rode to him, but before 
he could fire, Blount turned and shot him dead, then ran through Judge 
Tutt's garden into the woods, and made good his escape. Mrs. Reid is 
seventy-eight years old, and Miss Fickel is not twenty. These women 
will be sent to Warrensburg where they will be tried by military commis- 
sion. 

The above occurred on Monday evening. The next Wednesday night, 
Mrs. Reid's house was burned down by a man named Dennis Gaughan, 
for which he was promptly arrested by Lieut. Kessenger, and delivered to 
the sheriff, Jacob A. Price for trial by the civil authorities. 

Anna Fickel was sent to the state penetentiary by the military court; 
but on February 4, 1865, she was pardoned by President Lincoln. She 
was afterwards sent into the confederate lines. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 293 

• LADIES' UNION AID SOCIETY. 

Early in the war time a Union Aid Society was formed in Lexington 
by those men and women whose sympathies were on the federal side in the 
great conflict, and their services were in full demand to aid the sick and 
wounded federal soldiers, some of whom were constantly in the Lexing- 
ton post hospital. (Those on the other side were equally faithful to their 
sick and wounded, but we found no account of any definite organization, 
though there doubtless was one.) Mrs. Dr. Boulware was president of 
the Union Ladies' Aid Society, and the following were members: Mes- 
dames Dr. Alexander, J. M. Fleming, Adam Young, Dr. Chapman, S. 
Zeiler, S. G. Wentworth, S. Price, John Eneberg, Wm. H. Green, Fin- 
ley, Bascomb, A. Comingo, Gen. Vaughan, J. Wallace, A. H. McFad- 
den, Macey, B. Wilson, George Sedgwick, Schofield, Col. Morton, Ardin- 
ger; Misses Mattie Runyan, Whalan, Mary Boulware, Belle Wainwright, 
Clara Fall, Virginia Fleming, Sue Alexander, Mary Adamson, Mary 
Wernway, Bettie Haley, Rebecca McPheeters. 

The following letter was received by them and explains itself: 

Rooms of the Mississippi Valley Sanitary fair,* 
St. Louis, Mo., April 2, 1864. 
Mrs. Dr. Boulware, President of Union Aid Society, Lexington, Missouri: 

Dear Madam: — Your favor of the 29th ult., addressed to Samuel 
Copp, Jr., Esq., treasurer of the Mississippi Valley Sanitary Fair, enclos- 
ing a donation of $350.00 from the Union Aid Society of Lexington, 
Missouri, is before me. It affords me the greatest pleasure to observe the 
truly loyal and patriotic sentiments of your letter. While it challenges 
the wonder of all good citizens of our great and free country, to see and 
realize that so many of our citizens — forgetting what is due to honor, pat- 
riotism, self-interest and self-respect, are found in arms against that coun- 
try's peace, and conspiring for its overthrow, — our admiration rises in pro- 
portion for those, who, under the circumstances that surround you, boldly, 
unflinchingly and with fidelity to God and the country, stand up for the 
right. May heaven bless and prosper the good union people of Lexing- 
ton, and especially the patriotic ladies. , 

With high respect madam, your obedient servant, 

W. S. Rosecrans, Maj. General. 

events of 1865. 
In May, 18*65, Maj. B. K. Davis was in command of the post of Lex- 
ington, and on the 11th of the month he received the following sanguinary 
note: 

Major Davis: Sir — This is to notify you that I will give you until 
Friday morning, 10 o'clock, A. m., May 12th, 1865, to surrender the town 
of Lexington. If you surrender, we will treat you and all taken as 
prisoners of war. If we have to take it by storm we will burn the town 

♦See page 63 of this volume. 



294 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and kill the soldiery. We have the force and are determined to take it. 
I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

Arch. Clements. 
I have made Mr. Carter bear this message. His failure to do so will 
be punished by death. A. Clements. 

But Major Davis did not surrender, and the bushwhacking cutthroats 
did not attack the town. 

The Lafayette Advertiser of May 24th, published a list of seventy-six 
ex-confederate soldiers, or claimed to be, although most of them were 
only bushwhackers, who had come in and surrendered themselves, taken 
the oath of loyalty to the state and United States government, and been 
dismissed. 

During the same week ex-County Judges Schofield and Tetton, were 
arrested by negro militia and put in jail for abstracting the keys of the 
county clerk's vault. This was part of the contest as to the legality of 
the new county officers appointed by Governor Fletcher under the state 
convention ordinance, vacating all civil offices in the state. This affair is 
historic, as being the first time that negro militia were used in this county 
to enforce the civil law. The newly appointed county officers were: 
Thomas Adamson, sheriff; Wm. H. Bowen, county clerk; S. F. Currie, 
circuit clerk. The resisters were J. A. Price, sheriff; R. C. Vaughan, 
circuit clerk. 

The same paper of July 6th mentions that "a number of the horses sur- 
rendered here recently by the bushwhackers were sold at the rate of $25 
and $30 per head. One man bought nine at these rates." 

In 1865 a company of cavalry was organized by Lieut. R. W. P. 
Mooney, to serve as a sort of local military police, for they appear to have 
been of this county only, and not connected with any state or national 
body of troops. On August 14, 1865, the county court ordered them to 
be paid — some $65 and some $45, according to the time in service, and 
county warrants were issued accordingly. The total amount thus paid by 
the county was $6,425. The following is a complete list of this company, 
as appears in the public records, book No. 10, pp. 94, 95: 

Lieutentant, R. W. Mooney; privates, Wm. A. Kincaide, James L. Cox, 
Wm. J. Hutchison, Sam'l E. Durgin, James E. Hutchison, Geo. W.Wag- 
oner, James M. Vandyke, Henry Olslager, Samuel Boothman, Robert 
Buchanan, Wm. Borcher, Wm. L. Etherton, Green C. Davidson, Chas. 
H. Duck, Peter Furgeson, Chris. G. Gaston, Joseph Ganter, Absalom 
Harris, Geo. W. Helm, Thos. H. Hutchins, B. Johnson, J. Kesterson, 
Patrick Keary, Chas. D. Latham, Augustus H. Lynch, Sam'l P. Mansell, 
Wm. Martin, Jas. C. Mooney, Isa A. McDowell, Isaac N. Newman, Jas. 
H. Nevill, Oldam Owen, John R. Owen, Richard Owen, Leander T. 
Buchanan, Lemuel F. Ruckman, Jas. W. Scott, Erastus Lisson, Peter M. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 295 

Starr, John Thompson, Nathan Talbott, Henry J. Utt, Wm. W. Ashford, 
Wm. Copse, Geo. Ehlers, Barney Eagan, Sam'l Githons, James Gillespie, 
Thomas H. Hill, John Harthusen, John Miller, Chas. Powling, Frank 
Remelius, Lawrence Riley, Geo. W. Silver, Joseph Stevens, Henry 
Stinkle, Lewis B. Thomas, Henry Teppencamp. 

In 1865, a Lexington Petroleum Company was formed, with capital 
fixed at $500,000, in shares of $100 each. Their works were on the 
McCausland farm, ten miles southeast from Lexington. The Lexington 
Weekly Union of July 8, 1865, says: "Drill now down over one hundred 
feet. Have reached a white sand rock thoroughly saturated with oil. 
Evidences of oil increasing daily," etc. But, nevertheless, they failed to 
find oil in paying quantity. Their drilling tools stuck fast for two months^ 
and were finally worked out by two well-boring experts, Knisly and 
Alexander, brought on from Kanawha, Virginia, in October, 1865. E. 
Winsor, Esq., of Lexington, was the business manager of the McCaus- 
land oil well enterprise. At the same time there was another boring 
going on in the same vicinity under the business management of a man 
by the name of Ralston, which didn't " pan out " an}- better than the other. 
(See chapter on geology for an account of this oilstone formation.) About 
the same time there was a great oil-boring excitement in Ray county, a 
$15,000 company bored one hundred feet deep, six or eight miles from 
Richmond, but with no better success than in Lafayette county. 

July 8, 1865, the Lexington Union says, for the first time since January, 
1862, Lexington is without the presence of soldiers. 

In December, 1865, the county jail was burned down. There was 
$3,750 insurance on it, which was promptly paid. The jail was rebuilt by 
a Mr. Hackett, in 1866-67; in May of this latter year it was accepted for 
the county by the county court. That was the brown stone jail which 
is still in use. 

1868. — In April of this year, there was a literary society in Lexington, 
of which Dr. James Temple was president; a Mr. Rucker vice-president, 
and W. Cloudsley, secretary. About the same time there was a lodge of 
Good Templars here, who had their hall in the Arcana buildings, on 
Broadway street. Fo further particulars obtained. 

"grasshoppers." — 1874—75. 
These were the years of the great devastation in Nebraska, Kansas, and 
western Missouri by the Rocky Mountain locust (Caloptemus Spretus). 
The locusts came in thick flying clouds, mostly from a west or northwest- 
erly direction, in the fall of 1874; they destroyed what they could find then 
that was green and juicy enough for them, and finally laid their eggs. 
Lafayette county did not suffer greatly this year, as compared with other 
counties further west and north. But when the little imps hatched out in the 



296 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

spring and commenced marching eastward, eating a clean swath as they 
went, then this county knew what it was to be "grasshoppered." A cor- 
respondent of the Chicago Times wrote from Lexington, May 18, 1875: 
"The grasshoppers are on the move east, eating everything green in their 
road. One farmer south of this city had fifteen acre? of corn eaten by 
them yesterday in three hours. They mowed it down close to the ground 
just as if a mowing machine had cut it. All the tobacco plants in the upper 
part of the county have been eaten by them.' 

J. Belt of Napoleon wrote: "The loss to Lafayette county was fully 
two millions of dollars." James'E. Gladdish, of Aullville, wrote: "The 
damage done to the three-fourths of Lafayette county invaded, has been 
estimatee to be not far from $2,500,000." In Prof. Riley's eighth annual 
report as State entomologist, May, 1876, a table is given of estimated 
losses in twenty six different counties of Missouri which suffered from the 
lucust scourge and the sum total is a little over $15,000,000. We give the fig- 
ures on Lafayette and adjoining counties: Jackson, $2,500,000; Ray, $75,- 
000; Johnson, $1,000,000 Saline not named; Lafayette, $2,000,000. The 
largest loss in any county was Jackson. The locusts flew away in June, 
1875, and none have been here since. 

If such a visitation should occur again the experience of the past with 
these pests will be of incalculable value; and the printed records of it will 
be found in Prof. Riley's report above quoted, which was printed by the 
State as a part of the eleventh annual report of the State board of agricul- 
ture for the year 1875, printed at Jefferson City in 1876 Also the first 
report of the United States entomological commmission, printed at Wash- 
ington City in 1878, and their second report printed in 1880. In these 
works will be found full accounts of the character and habits of the locusts, 
modes of destroying them, and laws in regard to them, and an immense 
amount of other information very useful in time of need. The researches 
and reports on this subject by Prof. C. V. Riley of Missouri are more 
valuable than of all the other scientists put together who have given it 
any attention. 



ELECTIONS AND OTHER COUNTY MATTERS. 

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1860. 

There were many conflicting reports current in regard to events of this 
time, one of which was that sixteen men had voted for Lincoln and Ham- 
lin at Lexington, but were never so credited. One old man said, "In 1860 
they wouldn't let anybody vote for Lincoln, and in 1864 they wouldn't let 
'em vote for anybody else." Our aim was to get down to bed-rock bot- 
tom facts, in all these matters of era-making, historic interest; so, with the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 297 

kind assistance of Capt. Andrews, the deputy county clerk, we fished up 
from the heaps of old documents in the county's fire-proof vaults the 
original poll books of November, 1860; and from these we compiled the 
following table: 

VOTE OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY FOR PRESIDENT IN 1860. 

WHIG. DEMOCRAT. DEMOCRAT. REPUBLICAN. 

township. Bell and Douglass and Brecketiridge Lincoln and 

Everett. Johnson. and Lane. Hamlin. 

Clay township, two polls 258 52 64 

Davis township, one poll 42 30 7 

Dover township, one poll 129 56 58 

Freedom township, two polls.. ..... 114 57 32 11 

Lexington township, one poll 42 9 2 

Lexington city, two polls 575 301 133 13 

Middleton township, one poll 188 123 41 

Sniabar township, one poll 114 104 15 

Washington township, one poll 115 42 19 

Totals 1,577 774 371 24 

Lexington city had two polls, one at the court house, and one at the 
engine house, on Laurel street. The voting was then done viva voce, that 
is, each man had to say out loud who he voted for, and his name and 
choice were both recorded, instead of the present custom of printed tickets, 
which enables a man to vote for whom he pleases without anybody else 
knowing who he votes for, unless he chooses to tell them, or show his 
ticket. At the two polls for Lexington city we found the following result: 

Bell Douglas. Breckenridge. Lincoln. 

Courthouse ...451 97 81 12 

Engine house 124 204 51 1 

Total 575 301 133 13 

The names and their numbers on the poll list, of those who voted the 
Lincoln and Hamlin ticket at the court house were: 

6— J. M. Carpenter. 262 -S. Biglow. 606— James Brierly. 

7— Thomas Todd. 208— John Welch. 630— Charles Probst. 

59— John Ferree. 355— H. Fette. 631— Jacob Ingle. 

95— J. C. McGinnis* 507— B. F. Larkin. . . .—John B. Fisher. 

The solitary one who thus voted at the engine house was, 278 — Martin 
Blood. 

The names of the three sets of presidential electors, for Bell, Douglas, 
and Breckenridge, filled the heading of the poll books as prepared, and 
there was no place to check off votes for the Lincoln ticket, as none had 
been expected ; but this emergency was met by writing the names of the 
Lincoln and Hamlin electors lower down on a separate page in the back 

*Mr. McGinnis was afterward a member of the state legislature from St. Louis two 
terms, then city attorney one term (two years). Was in the state senate four years (1872 
to 1876); and is now the member from the 1st assembly district of St. Louis. 



298 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

part of the poll book, as follows: John D. Stevenson, Arnold Krekel, 
Harrison B. Branch, Wm. Gilpin, J. F. St. James, John M. Richardson, 
Wm. Bishop, Charles Foley, James B. Gardenhire. 

The above will astonish many old citizens, for it was generally believed 
that no such records were in existence; we had heard several say so, and 
an expert who had examined the same poll books assured us that there 
were no votes credited to Lincoln. He fully believed that he knew it for 
a fact. But there is nothing in the world so easy as to be mistaken. 

The following names had been furnished us as among those who voted 
for Lincoln, but they are differently recorded, thus: 

At court house, for Bell — 43 — Charles White, James Curry, not found. 
For Douglas, 547 — H. Marquort, 5.44 — Jacob Lindenschmidt. At engine 
house, 281 — Michael Myers. For Breckenridge, 177 — Fred. R. Neet. 

Mr. Marquort kept a grocery on Water street, down by the river, and 
it is said the Lincoln men used to meet there secretly by night to talk over 
matters; that there were over a hundred in the city who talked as if they 
would go to the polls together and vote for Lincoln; but they were 
mostly mechanics and laboring men, and owing to the strong feeling 
against their politics, most of them left the city before election day. In 
view of the conflicting reports which we met with here in Lexington 
about these matters, we wrote to Hon. J. C. McGinnis of St. Louis for 
his recollections. His reply in regard to the votes was substantially as 
we had already found them on the poll books. We extract from his letter 
a few passages of historic interest : 

There were a good many who were at heart republicans in Lexington 
at that day, but the prejudice against republicanism, (chiefly growing out 
of the prevailing ignorance of the true objects and purposes of the party) 
was so great that only a few persons had the nerve, or the recklessness, 
to declare themselves such in a public manner. You ask whether those 
voting for Lincoln all went to the court house together? They did not. 
No one went with me, and I have the impression that the others dropped 
in along through the day just as it happened. I do not know whereabouts 
my name appears on the poll book, but I have always been under the 
impression that I was the first one of the lot to vote, from the fact that I 
had considerable trouble in getting the officers of election to receive my 
vote. I went to the poll (at the court house) about 9 o'clock, and had 
with me a ticket containing the names of the republican electors. I offered 
my ticket after giving my name, and the officer receiving it looked at it a 
moment and then said, 'you can't vote that ticket here,' at the same time 
handing the ticket back to others who sat at a table. They all examined 
it a moment and one of them said, 'We have no poll here for that ticket.' 
Well, although I had been at work there as a carpenter, I had studied 
law, and was fully posted as to my rights in the premises, and I said 'I 
demand that you open a poll then, for I want to vote that ticket; and 
though you may object to any one voting for Lincoln here, and though I 
know that the general result in the United States will not be affected by 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 299 

any vote in Missouri, still the local ticket may be changed 
by a single vote, and I will not vote, unless I can vote the 
whole ticket as I choose; and if you do not take my vote for 
Mr. Royle,* there may be a contest grow out of your refusal.' 
This was about what I said. The judges consulted together a 
few moments, and then told the officer who had taken the ticket to read 
it, and he did so, in what I thought was a needlessly loud voice; as he 
read, the clerks entered the vote, and when they had finished I hurried to 
go away; then I noticed that all the people in the neighborhood had 
crowded close up to where I was standing in front of the polling place, 
but when I started to walk away they opened a way for me to pass, and 
crowded back from me as though I had the leprosy or small pox. There 
was some muttering but no threats in the crowd, which numbered per- 
haps two hundred persons. I passed down the court house steps and 
walked across the street into the store of T. B. Wallace. I had not been 
there more than a minute or two, when I heard some one say, 'McGinnis 
I did not know you was a damned black abolitionist before.' I looked up 
and saw the speaker was a young fellow named Jim Furgeson, whose 
father lived some miles south of town. Furgeson cursed me a while and 
made noise enough to attract the attention of the people passing, and those 
over at the court house polls, and very soon the store became crowded 
with a very excited lot of men and boys. Some of the young fellows 
called out, 'Hang the God damned black republican nigger-thief.' This 
was repeated perhaps once or twice. My recollection is that young Fur- 
geson left as soon as the crowd got pretty thick; there were so many of 
them that they filled the space between me and the door so that I could 
not pass out, and things began to look pretty squally. There was not 
much noise, but it did not take half an eye to see that the crowd was 
excited greatly. Just then some one took me by the arm and said, 'I want 
to see vou out side,' at the same time starting towards the door. Some- 
thing more was said which I do not remember, but from which I got the 
idea that this person — who I think was Joe Shelby, intended to befriend 
me. He went out and along the side walk with me to the next corner 
south, and said, 'Now don't lose any time getting home.' I thanked him 
and took his advice. There was a newspaper in Lexington at that time 
called the Express, (I think,) at any rate it was the only considerable 
paper in the city besides the Expositor, and in its next issue, this Express 
contained a most bitter article denunciatory of the thirteen who had voted 
for Lincoln, calling them 'abolition negro-thieves,' and incendiaries, and 
calling on the people to drive us out, or use some of the good Lafayette 
county hemp on us. All ot the thirteen (except two, I think) yielded to 
the clamor that was raised, and left the place within a few weeks. I 
stayed until the following 2d of May, and Ferree remained considerably 
longer. I heard some threats of violence made towards me, but no violence 
was actually offered. I also received one or two anonymous notices to 
leave. I finally left upon the friendly warning of two of my secession 
friends (Major Bleuett and Dr. Bull) that they knew that personal vio- 
lence would be done me unless I left. " 

In Freedom township there were two voting places — one at " old place 

♦Jonathan C. Royle,, whig, and John W. Bryant, Democrat, were candidates for circuit 
attorney. These were the only candidates at that time besides the presidential electors. 



300 .HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

of holding elections," the record says, and the other at Brockhofl's store. 
At this latter place Bell and Everett had 33; Douglas and Johnson 32; . 
Breckenridge and Lane 22; Lincoln and Hamlin 11. Those who voted 
here for Lincoln at this time were — J. H. Ehlers, H. Koopman, Sr., H. 
Koopman,Jr., H. D. Stinkel, D. Frerking, W. H. Meinecke, Wm. Frer- 
king, T. Dedeke, I. Eisenstein, H. Brinkoffer, Hy. Sharnhorst. 

CURIOSITIES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE OF 1860 IN LEXINGTON. 

The name of T. T. Crittenden, the present Governor of the state (1881), 
appears as No. 48 on the engine house poll book, and he voted for Bell 
and Everett. 

At the court house the name of H. M. Bledsoe appears as No. 199, 
voting for Breckenridge and Lane; and it appears again on the same poll 
book as No. 286, voting for Bell and Everett. 

R. C. Ewing is recorded No. 455 as voting for Breckenridge "under 
protest." 

Five names appear on the books as not voting at all as to President, 
but some for John W. Bryant and some for Jonathan C. Royle for circuit 
attorney — the only other candidates to be voted on at that time. 

Pat McGraw voted at one poll for Bell and Everett and at the other 
for Douglas and Johnson; but he was caught at it, and his vote was 
declared void. 

VOTE OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY FOR PRESIDENT IN 1864. 

[Compiled from the official records, for this History.] 

DEMOCRAT. REPUBLICAN. 

townships. McClelland Lincoln and 

and Pendleton. Johnson. 

Clay, at Greenton poll 36 

■ at Wellington poll 40 

Davis — No return 

Dover 34 1 

Freedom, at Brockhofl's store . . . 7 59 

" at Cain's store 33 

Lexington, citv and township 211 173 

Middleton . . . ." 33 

Sniabar, no return 

Washington ... 12 

7th Regt. Missouri State Militia, at Warrensburg . . 18 

1st Cavalry Regt. M. S. M., at Lexington 23 59 

45th Regt Mo. Volunteers, infantry, in Cole county. 3 

Total 396 346 

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE OF 1872. 

This was the year when Horace Greeley of New York and B. Gratz 
Brown of Missouri were the Democratic and Liberal Republican candi- 
dates, and Gen. Grant (2d term) and Henry Wilson the Radical Republi- 



For Grant 


voting precinct. For Greeley 


for Grant 


and Wileon. 


and Brown. 


and Wilson. 


182 


Wellington 


183 


54 


468 


Napoleon 


113 


25 


61 


North Washington 


245 


64 


33 


South Washington. 


124 


32 


85 




22 


240 


47 


West Freedom .... 


139 


89 


51 


East Sniabar 


114 


40 


44 




109 


8 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 301 

can candidates. The official vote of Lafayette county as published at the 
time stood thus: 

toting precinct. For Greeley 

and Brown. 

East Lexington . . . 243 

West Lexington . . . 433 

North Dover 271 

South Dover 156 

Middleton 412 

East Davis 60 

West Davis 169 

Greenton 191 

Totals 2,984 1,523 

Greeley's majority jn county, 1,481. 

VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTION OF 1865. 

The state convention, which was the real law-making power of the 
state from February 28, 1861, till 1865, had, on June 10, 1862, passed an 
ordinance, prescribing a test-oath of loyalty, which was required, there- 
after, to be subscribed and sworn to by every adult man, before he should 
be permitted to vote. The main feature of this oath was in language 
thus: 

That I will bear true faith, loyalty, and allegiance to the United States, 
and will not, directly or indirectly, give aid, or comfort, or countenance, to 
the enemies or opposers thereof, or of the provisional government of the 
state of Missouri, any ordinance, law, or resolution of any state convention 
or legislature, or of any order or organization, secret or otherwise, to the 
contrary notwithstanding; and that I do this with a full and honest deter- 
mination, pledge, and purpose, faithfully to keep and perform the same, 
without any mental reservation or evasion whatever. And I do solmnly 
swear, that I have not, since the 17th- day of December, 1861, wilfully 
taken up arms, or levied war, against the United States, or against the 
provisional government of the state of Missouri, so help me God. 

In November, 1864, the people voted on a proposition for a state constitu- 
tional convention, every voter being required to take the above oath ; and 
the proposition was reported to be carried bv 29,000 majority in the state. 
The convention met in St. Louis, in January and February, 1865; it 
framed a new constitution, and the people voted on it, June 6, 1865 — the 
above oath for voters being still in force — and the following official return 
for Lafayette county we copy, just as found in the records: 

G 



302 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



Lexington 



Clay 

Freedom, No. 1. 
Freedom, No. 2. 
Sniabar 



Davis 

Middleton . . 
Washington 
Dover 



For 


Against 






Constitution. 


Constitution. 


Total. 


Remarks. 


170 


271 


441 


The illegal votes are in- 
cluded in this total. 


2 


132 


134 


Disloyal judges and clerks 


84 


2 
53 


86 
30 
55 




30 . 




2 


Clerks and one judge dis- 








loyal. 


3 


101 


104 


Clerks and judges disloyal 


1 


113 


114 


Clerks disloyal. 


3 


42 


45 


Clerks disloyal. 




102 


102 


Clerks and judges refuse 











to take the oath or ad- 


295 


816 


1111 


minister it to voters. 



Totals.... 

No ballots returned from Clay and Sniabar townships, and only a por- 
tion from Washington township. 

The above document is certified and signed by Thomas D. Wernway 
and John Kirkpatrick, county judges, and W. H. Bowen, county clerk, 
June 10, 1865. 

The vote on this new constitution in the whole state, as recited in Gov. 
Fletcher's proclamation, was: For it, 43,670; against it, 41,808; majority 
for it, 1,862 — and it went into effect July 4, 1865. [For disabilities imposed, 
etc., see page 65 of this history.] 

Hon. Charles D. Drake, of St. Louis, took a prominent part in framing 
this new constitution. Its disfranchising and other restricting features 
were, of course, strenuously opposed by all southern sympathizers, and 
also by many of the union men. It remained in force ten years, being con- 
stantly the basis of party politics, and of contests in the courts, and was 
finally wiped out forever, by the new constitution of 1875. It was stig- 
matized as the "Drake Constitution," the "Drakonian Code," etc., and its 
partisans were called the " Eternal Hate Party," the " Hate and Revenge 
Party," etc. 

VOTE OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY ON THE NEW • CONSTITUTION OF 1875.* 
VOTE TAKEN OCTOBER 30. 

For Against 

Mount Hope precinct 83 19 

West Sniabar 49 3 

Aullville 113 11 

Concordia 47 93 

East Lexington 91 30 

West Lexington 373 115 

Dover 137 1 

Page City 61 

North Washington 89 



*Hon. Henry C. Wallace, of Lexington, represented Lafayette, Saline, and Pettis counties 
which then constituted the 17th state senatorial district, in the convention which framed 
this constitution . 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 303 

For Against 

South Washington 38 1 

Wellington 137 2 

Napoleon 57 8 

Greenton 84 1 

Coffey's School House 37 

Higginsville 125 

Middleton 257 3 

Total 1778 287 

Majority for the constitution, 1,481, in Lafayette county. The majority 
for it, in the state, was 76,688. This constitution went into effect Novem- 
ber 30, 1875, and still continues. 

July 21, 1845, Robert Aull, William H. Russell, and Robert M. Hen- 
derson were appointed commissioners to locate a county jail; but for some 
reason not recorded did not act. Afterward, Eldredge Burden, William 
Boyce, and Alex. McFadden appear as jail commissioners, and on October 
6, 1846, it is recorded that $2,700 was paid to Gabriel F. Brown, con- 
tractor for jail building. 

COUNTY LINE SURVEYS. 

Sept. 2, 1846, a report was made to the county court by John C. Bled- 
soe, surveyor of Lafayette county, and A. H. Perry, surveyor of Johnson 




COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, LEXINGTON, MISSOURI, 
county, in regard to an official survey of the line between these two coun- 
ties. The cost of this joint survey was $696.35, of which Lafayette 
county paid half. The report covers twenty-two pages (from pp. 131 to 
152) of county record book No. 8. 

Sept. 1, 1851, the county surveyor was ordered to re-survev and estab- 
lish the boundary line between Lafayette and Saline counties. And on 
Oct. 10, 1854, appears a similar order with reference to Lafayette and 
Johnson counties again. 

May 8, 1854, the sum of $4500 was appropriated to build offices for the 
clerks of circuit and county courts. Wm. Morrison was appointed to let 



304 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

the contract and oversee the construction. The building erected under 
this order was the offices and fire-proof vaults now occupied by the clerks 
above mentioned and the county treasurer and auditor. 

Occasionally we find in legal proceedings a combination of language as 
ludicrous and laughable as the grotesque conceits of Mark Twain . Here 
is an instance under date of July 21, 1877: " The state of Missouri, to 
the sheriff of Lafayette county, greeting: You are hereby commended 
to summon Lafayette county, if she be found in your county, that she be 
and appear before the circuit court of Lafayette county," etc. It is pre- 
sumed that the sheriff found "her" and brought "her" into court; and 
the ladies would like to know how "she" was dressed. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. — 1881. 

The term of some of the county offices is two years and some four 
years. The following are the present incumbents: 

Years. Name. Office. 

4 John A Prather .Presiding county judge. 

2 James W. Harrison Associate county jndge. 

2 John A. Lockhart " " " 

4 William B. Steele County clerk. 

Samuel J. Andrews Deputy county clerk (appointed). 

4 John P. Strother, Saline Co . . Circuit judge. 
4 John E. Ryland Criminal judge. 

John S. Black well Prosecuting attorney. 

Frank Trigg Clerk of the circuit and criminal courts- 

C. B. Daniel Deputy circuit clerk (appointed). 

2 James B. Hord Probate judge. 

Samuel M. Harris Probate clerk (appointed). 

Benjamin Elliott Sheriff. 

Benjamin G. Chinn Deputy sheriff and jailor (appointed). 

Joseph Bowman Deputy sheriff. 

2 Benjamin R. Ireland Treasurer. 

4 Jacob D. Conner Recorder. 

2 Zach S. Mitchell Assessor. 

2 Geo. M. Mountjoy Collector. 

S. S. Reeder Deputy collector (appointed). 

2 Dr. J. G. Russell Coroner. 

2 Geo. M. Catron County schoool commissioner. 

2 Benjamin D. Weedin County surveyor. 

Rev. L. B. Wright Supt. county poor farm (appointed). 

POSTOFFICES IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 1881. 

In Clay township — Greenton, Napoleon, Waterloo, Wellington. 

In Davis township — Higginsville. 

In Dover township — Corder, Dover, Page City. 

In Freedom township — Aullville, Concordia. 

In Lexington township — Lexington. 

In Middleton township — Alma (it absorbed Dick P. O.), Waverly. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 305 

In Sniabar township — Bates City, on line between Sniabar and Clay 
townships (it absorbed Sny P. O.), Chapel Hill, Odessa, on line between 
Sniabar and Clay townships (it absorbed Mount Hope P. O.). 

In Washington township — De Motte (established this year), Mayview, 
Tabo. 

COUNTY FINANCES. 

The first assessor of Lillard county was Wm. Y. C. Ewing, appointed 
April 23, 1821 ; and the first tax collector was Markham Fristoe, appointed 
at the same time, his bondsmen being Isaac Clarke and Thomas Fristoe. 
Markham Fristoe was also, on April 24th, appointed constable of Sniabar 
township. Wm. Christie is mentioned at the same time as the " auditor 
of public accounts," he being the State officer to whom all county financial 
matters must be certified. July 23d Young Ewing is mentioned as county 
treasurer, but there is no record of how or when he first received the 
office. The same date, W. Y. C. Ewing is allowed $30 for services as 
assessor. The first mention of county funds occurs at this date. The 
county treasurer acknowledged in open court that he had received from 
Abraham McClelland the sum of $40, which was now subject to the order 
of the court. 

This singular entry appears July 24th: " Ordered that the collector of 
this county collect thirty-seven per cent, on all species of property liable to 
taxation as stated in the assessor's book, and pay the same to the county 
treasurer, as the law directs," — meaning, of course, thirty-seven per cent 
of the levy, although it reads thirty-seven per cent, of the whole property. 
On November 5th the collector reports a delinqent list amounting to $8.97. 
Another entry on the same day shows that the total tax collection for 
1822 was $168.17|. 

The first tax book of the county, in 1821, shows 188 resident and 7 
non-resident taxpayers, and the taxable property foots up thus: 

Tax on total valuation $199.72^ 

" bachelors 38.00 

" watches 9.12 

" carriages 6.00 

"household furniture 1.00 

Total amount of State tax $253.84£ 

If the list of names of taxpayers only included residents within the pres- 
ent territory of Lafayette county, we would give all the names and their 
assessed valuation of property ; but the county at that time embraced terri- 
tory which has since been formed into seven other counties, and the tax- 
payers were widely scattered 



306 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

TAX ON BACHELORS — 1821. 

In 1821 the State of Missouri levied a special tax on " unmarried white 
males above 21 and under 50 years." The first tax list of Lafayette county 
(then called Lillard) gives the following list of bachelors thus taxed: Aaron 
Bryant, Thomas Blakey, John Bastick, David Blevins, James Ball, Solo- 
mon Catron, Gabriel Chineth, Joseph Cox, Elijah Demasters, Isaac Duna- 
way, Moses Day, Alexander Dunbar, Robert Ewing, Green Hughes > 
Wm. Hall, Amos Horn, John Ingram, Zachariah Linville, Green McCaf- 
ferty, Thomas McCafferty, Hugh McCafferty, Robert Renick, George 
Stevens, John Sallady, Isaiah Tribble, Elijah Tate, Henderson Wheeler,. 
Wm. Wallace, Wm. Young, Jr., James Young — total, 31. All these men 
were specially taxed for the "luxury " of living in the county without 
incurring the cares and responsibilities of the "head of a family," and this 
special tax for that year amounted in all to $38. This tax seems to have 
been abolished after the first year, for the term " unmarried " does not 
occur in the tax lists of subsequent years. But the " tax on bachelors"' 
was for many years thereafter a favorite joke among the ladies. 

COUNTY TAX LIST FOR 1828 — ABSTRACT. 

What tax is on. Number. Value. Total tax. 

White males, [poll tax] 315 $157.50 

Land-acres 17,118.91 $22,617.00 56.54* 

Town lots 71.50 4,607.50 ll.Slf 

Improvements 136 8,400.00 21.0,0 

Slaves 239 59,665.00 149.16* 

Horses 713 23,407.00 58.51| 

Cattle 1,459 9,306.00 23.26i 

Watches 21 396.00 .99 

Tanvards 3 140.00 .35 

Distilleries 4 360.00 .90 

Mills 4 225.00 .56* 

Carriages 3 415.00 1.03| 

Added at court 3.16 

Total $487.5Hi 

The total tax on non-resident owners of lands and lots at the same 
date was $42.26*. 

The above document is certified by Markham Fristre, assessor, and 
Young Ewing, county clerk. The county had not yet obtained an official 
seal, so Mr. Ewing "affixed his private seal," which consisted of a 
four-rayed star cut out of white paper, the rays measuring three inches 
diameter from point to point, and stuck on to the document with a red 
sealing wafer such as were in use at that time. 



history of Lafayette county. 307 

financial statement of lafayette county, for 1870. 

Lands, acres 387,678.40 

Town lots 3,846 00 

Valuation of $5,788,848.00 

All personal property 2,569,128.00 

Total $8,357,976.00 

State revenue tax $ 20,894.94 

State interest tax 20,897.71 

Countv tax 41,813.29 

Road tax 19,872.34 

Poor house tax 13,301.73 

Lexington and St. Louis R. R. tax 62,798.83 

Bridge tax 16,716.21 

County interest tax 20,899.10 

Lexington township R. R. tax 9,344.28 

Total $ 226,588.41 

Township school tax is not included in the above statement. The rate 
of school tax for Lexington township was 69 cents on $100. 

VALUATION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY FOR 1876. 

8,226 horses, valued at $ 290,273 

3,793 mules and asses 171,347 

21,300 neat cattle 245,768 

8,017 sheep 8,082 

30,664 hogs 103,067 

Money, notes and bonds 616,058 

Personal property 243,298 

Household property 226,249 

Total $1,904,142 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1881. 

Abstract of receipts and expenditures of Lafayette county for the fiscal 
year ending December 1, 1880: 

County expense fund, total receipts, $ 26,772.62 

Disbursements : 

By criminal court $ 5,032.15 

By circuit court 1,242.20 

By county court 6,108.26 

By probate court 110.00 

Miscellaneous items 9,770.38 

Total disbursements. . $ 22,262.99 

Balance on hand December 1, 1880 $ 4,509.63 



308 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

DIFFERENT COUNTY FUNDS. 
What Fund Receipts. Disbursements. Bal. on Hand. 

Poor house $ 6,642.21 $ 3,556.80 $ 3,075.41 

Road and bridge 5,291.13 8,667.91 * 

County railroad 169.07 169.07 

County interest 68.08 f 5.72 

Poor house interest 10.60 10.60 

Redemption land 23.07 23.07 

Lexington township railroad 26.33 26.33 

Washington " " 10.35 10.35 

Sniabar " " 10.42 10.42 

Middleton " " 193.40 193.40 

Davis " " 231.56 45.15 186.41 

Freedom " " 489.89 42.30 447.59 

Sinking, county int. and school 1,217.66 1,077.10 140.56 

Compromise 69,437.12 48,181.86 21,255.26 

State fund:— Balance on hand at settlement, December 2, 1879, $280.72. 
This amount was transferred to the state treasurer, and his receipt there- 
for placed on file. 

GENERAL STATISTICS 1879-80. 

[Compiled from State Auditor's Report, January 1, 1881.] 
Total state revenue received from Lafayette county in 1879: Revenue 
fund, $19,118.48; interest fund, $12,767.87. In 1880: Revenue fund, 
$22,183.99; interest fund, $26,022.73. 

Costs in criminal cases, by state warrants issued fo Frank Trigg, cir- 
cuit clerk, in 1879, $5,336.19; in 1880, $2,034.12. Warrants issued to 
Geo. M. Mountjoy, county sheriff, in 1879, $298.50; in 1880, $188.50. 
Number of convicts in 1879, 14; cost of transportation, $265.50. Number 
of convicts in 1880, 10; cost of transportation, $172.50. 
Cost of assessing and collecting the revenue: 

Warrants is- Warrants is- 
sued 1879. sued 1880. 

To Wm. B. Steele, county clerk $ 594.07 $ 689.96 

To Wm. C. White, assessor 943.87 1,044.54 

To P. S. Fulkerson collector 72.63 64.23 

To R. B. Ireland treasurer 14.14 

Totals $1,610.57 $ 1,812.87 

The state school money issued to Lafayette county in 1879 was $6,124.- 

15; in 1880, $6,140.98. 

Uuder the head of "Bonded Debt of Counties" occurs the following 

table, which will be of interest and value to preserve: 

♦Balance due treasurer, $3,376.78. 
•(•Transferred to sinking fund $62.36. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 309 

County. Date Issue. Amt. Issued. For What Purpose. 

Lafayette 1869 $488,700 . . . Lexington & St. Louis R. R. 

Lafayette 1870 251,000 . . .Lexington & St. Louis R. R. 

Lafayette 1871 20,000 . . . Lexington & St. Louis R. R. 

Lafayette 1869 98,500 Funding County Debt. 

Lafayette 1870 102,000 Funding County Debt. 

Lafayette 1871 45,000 Funding County Debt. 

Lafayette 1876 631,000 . . . Compromise of above bonds. 

Lexington Twp. .. 75,000 . .Lexington & St. Joseph R. R. 

Lexington Twp. . . 75,000 Chillicothe & Gulf R. R. 

Washington Twp 75,000 Chillicothe & Gulf R. R. 

Sniabar Twp 35,000 Chillicothe & Gulf R. R. 

Middleton Twp . . . 17,000 Tebo & Neosho R. R. 

Freedom Twp. . . 25,000 . . .Lexington & St. Louis R. R. 

Davis Twp 10,000 . . . Lexington & St Louis R. R. 

Of the Lexington and St. Louis R. R. bonds of the county, the 
amount compromised was $578,900; amount outstanding, $44,900; 
amount in litigation, $11,000; amount canceled and paid, $131,900. Of 
bonds for funding the county debt, amount compromised, $95,250; amount 
outstanding, $65,000; amount in litigation, $41,000; amount canceled and 
paid, $81,250. Of the compromise bonds there were still outstanding 
$611,900, and $19,200 had been canceled and paid. The Lexington and 
St Joe R. R. bonds had been declared unconstitutional by the U. S. 
supreme court; nevertheless they are still out in claimants' hands. All 
the other township bonds are outstanding, with accrued interest from date 
of issue. 

There were in Lafayette county 28 dram shops (?) [that's all that were 
reported to the state Auditor], and for these the state licenses amounted 
to $1,295.76; the county licenses to $2,593.81. The column for wine and 
beer saloons is left blank, none reported; and only two drug stores in the 
county licensed to sell liquors. The state liquor license is $50 per year, 
and the county license $100. 

The assessment returns of valuations gives number of acres, 491,645 ; 
valuation, $4,493,855; average value per acre, $11.47. Number of town 
lots, 6,575; valuation $988,500; average value, $150.34. Total value of 
real estate in the county, $5,4S2,355. Of live stock and other personal 
items, there were: 

No. Valuation. 

Horses 9,172 $294,365 

Mules 4,122 174,645 

Asses and Jennets 36 2,525 

Neat Cattle 20,290 272,140 

Sheep 13,709 15,920 

Hogs 37,457 83,480 

Money, bonds and notes 717,155 

Brokers and exchange dealers 113,100 

Corporate companies 30,150 

All other personal property 604,050 



310 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Total personal property, $2,307,530 ; total taxable wealth of the county 
$8,789,885. 

In 1880 only 69 counties paid anything for wolf scalps, and among 
these w r as .Lafayette, $10. The highest amount paid was by Atchison 
county, $143; the lowest amount was by Pettis and Platte counties, only 
$1.50 each. 



RAILROAD HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 




VIEW ON THE CHICAGO & ALTON R. R., TWO MILES WEST OF GLAS- 
GOW. EMIGRANT TRAIN GOING WEST. 

In 1858 and 1859, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company was pushing 
its line westward with a good deal of enterprise and vigor; and, as nearly 
all of our western lines have done, they were running it through those 
towns, cities and counties which offered the largest bonus. The people 
of Lexington and Lafayette county saw that they must " struggle for 
existence," if they were going to "survive as the fittest " in the on-coming 
railroad age. They met the issue boldly and struck out with a strong 
hand to hold their vantage ground. In 1859, the matter had got pretty 
well warmed up, and after harvest several public meetings were held to 
discuss and consider the situation. These culminated in the following 
proceedings of the county court, which are the first official record of any 
railroad matters within the county: 

Monday, October iy, 1S59. — Now, at this day, came Thomas P. Akers, 
R. C. Vaughan and Wm. S. Field, a committee appointed at a public 
meeting of the citizens of said county, and present to the court here a 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 311 

report made to said meeting respecting the project of a railroad, which 
report is in the words and figures as follows: 

" We, Thompson M. Ewing, Wm. Shields, Stephen S. Neill, John Reid, 
Edward Winsor, G, J. Blewett, Eldredge Burden, Robort B. Smith, Rich- 
ard Vaughan, Alfred James, Samuel Warren, and Wm. S. Felds, a part 
of the committee appointed at a meeting of the citizens of Lafayette 
county on the 19th day of September, J 859, for the purpose of reporting 
business for a mass meeting of the citizens of said county, to be holden 
at the fair ground of said county on the 11th day of October, 1859, beg 
leave to submit the following as our report: 

" That whereas, In the present progressive age of the world, it is em- 
barrassing to an intelligent community to live without the beneficial influ- 
ences of railroads; that we live in the center of a community unsurpassed 
on the American continent in point of national advantages; our soil, cli- 
mate and central position, combine to make our county lovely and desira- 
ble: that we have a population of moral, liberal, industrious and enter- 
prising people; that our county is possessed of a large amount of wealth, 
her taxable property exceeding nine millions of dollars, with the present 
low grade of valuation placed upon it by our county assessors; that we 
believe a reasonable, fair selling estimate of the value of taxable prop- 
erty now in our county, is not short of fourteen millions of dollars; that 
in five years, with a railroad running through our county, the value of 
her taxable property would run up to twenty millions of dollars. That in 
view of these facts, we believe our county can pay half a million of dol- 
lars toward the construction of some great railroad outlet and inlet to and 
from the center of our county, without difficulty or embarrassment; that 
we believe the most practicable route for us at present to undertake to 
construct is a road leading from a point on the Pacific road between George- 
town and Knob Noster, the most practicable point to be ascertained by 
actual survey from said beginning point on the nearest and best line to the 
city of Lexington, and thence up the river on the most practicable line to 
Kansas City. That Jackson county, Kansas city, and other influences 
west will be amply sufficient to insure the completion of said contem- 
plated road from Lexington to Kansas City, and therefore it behooves 
Lafayette county more especially to look to the completion of said road 
from said beginning point to the city of Lexington. 

In consideration of all of which facts, therefore be it 

Resolved, to- wit: That we ask the Honorable County Court of Lafay- 
ette county to subscribe half a million of dollars for the purpose of build- 
ing a road from said beginning point to the City of Kansas, by way of 
Lexington, and to be applied towards the construction of that part of said 
road between said beginning point and Lexington, to be paid in five equal 
annual installments, the first beginning in 1861: To be subscribed to such 
company as the said court may think best, and in such a manner as to 
allow each taxpayer to become a stockholder in such company to the 
amount of the taxes he may pay. The county, inher corporate capacity 
not to retain any stock after all the subscription shall have been paid up; 
but to remain a stockholder to the extent of half a million dollars until fhe 
first installment shall have been paid, and certificates of stock issued to 
the taxpayers, then to be reduced one-fifth, and in the like ratio each year 
until all the stock is paid up. 



312 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Second, That in order to test the voice of the people of the county upon 
this proposition, a poll be opened at the respective places of voting in said 
county, on the 14th day of November, 1859, and that each voter of the 
county be requested to vote for or against the proposition ; and that poll 
books be prepared and opened for that purpose; a majority of those voting 
to govern the court. 

Third, That we desire our county court to reserve a controling and 
protecting influence in said subscription, and guard our interests from 
fraud, and misapplication of our means, and to see that our money shall 
not be spent without the certainty «of procuring the road. 

Fourth, Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by this meet- 
ing, to present these resolutions to the county court. All of which is 
respectfully submitted. 

Wm. L. Field, chairman. 

Said committee further present to the court here the proceedings (in 
part,) of an adjournec session of said public meeting, in words as follows: 

On motion of Hon. S. F. Taylor, that portion of the report (above), 
which made the eastern terminus of the same (said proposed railroad) the 
most available point between Georgetown and Knob Noster, was stricken 
out, and " that point where the Pacific railroad line crosses the stream, 
Muddy, west of Georgetown, or its vicinity, was designated and made the 
point of termination." 

Order of Court — And all and singular the premises being seen, it is 
ordered by the court here that an election be held at the several voting 
precincts in Lafayette county on Monday, the 14th day of November, 
1859, to test the sense of the people on the proposition that said county 
shall subscribe the sum of five hundred thousand dollars as stock in said 
proposed railroad upon the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions 
set forth in the report and resolutions copied above and adopted by said 
public meeting hereinbefore mentioned." 

The above court record was made October 17. On November 7th the 
court recorded this — 

" Additional Order in relation to the proposed railroad subscription. It 
is hereby further ordered that this court will not be bound to make any 
subscription to a railroad from Lexington to the Pacific railroad until 
there is an act of the Legislature passed that will make the tax levied for 
railroad purposes applicable to all taxable property in the city of Lexing- 
ton and all incorporated towns in the county of Lafayette, any law to the 
contrary notwithstanding that exempts the property within the county of 
any corporation in the county of Lafayette aforesaid. It is further ordered 
that this court will not authorize the collection and payment of any rail- 
road tax until there shall have been made actual survey and estimates of 
cost of said proposed road." 

November 14th, 1859, the election was held as ordered. This was the 
first vote ever taken in the county on any railroad proposition, and the fol- 
lowing table shows how the vote stood: 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 313 

For Against Total 

appropriation, appropriation, vote. 

Clay township 33 199 232 

Davis " 98 1 99 

Dover " 93 76 169 

Freedom " (east precinct) 136 8 144 

Freedom " (west precinct) 92 21 113 

Lexington township 470 46 516 

Lexington city 599 19 618 

Middleton township 94 80 174 

Sniabar township 3 163 166 

Washington township 50 144 194 

Totals 1,668 757 2,425 

It must be borne in mind that at this time the constitution of the state 
did not lay any restriction or limitation upon the voting of bonds to rail- 
roads, * etc., — and the above votes were entirely legal, although some 
fraudulent operations were carried on in after years under pretended 
authority of these votes. But the new constitution adopted in 1865 (after 
the war) did expressly provide safeguards against the too easy voting of 
public bonds. 

December 20th, 1859, the court appointed Thomas G. Smith as agent 
of the county on railroad matters; but on January 7th, 1S60, the appoint- 
ment of Smith was rescinded, and the following appears of record: 

Whereas, the people of Lafayette county have signified by an election 
heretofore held their desire that this court on behalf of said county should 
subscribe the sum of five hundred thousand dollars as stock in said pro- 
posed road under the orders, restrictions and limitations herein and here- 
tofore made by this court. It is therefore ordered by the court that Charles 
S. Tarleton be appointed to make said subscription, and in all matters relat- 
ing thereto to represent said county and this court, and generally in refer- 
ence to said proposed road to represent and act for said county. 

The county judges at this time were T. G. Smith, Richard Carr, and 
Charles S. Tarleton. 

March 6, 1860, by the court it is "Ordered that the act of Charles S. 
Tarleton as the agent of this court to represent Lafayette county and' to 
subscribe the stock to the Lexington and Georgetown railroad be 
approved by this court." But it is recorded that Richard Carr dissented 
from this order. 

June 11, 1860, the court ordered its agent, Judge Tarleton, "to make 
said subscription final, as soon as the directory of the Pacific Railroad 
Compnay shall have confirmed the contract heretofore agreed upon 
between their committee and the fiscal agent of the Lexington and St. Louis 
Railroad Company." Judge Carr filed his dissent against this order 

*Under the constitution the county court had full power to issue or not to issue bonds,, 
without any vote of the people at all ; but the court very wisely wanted a vote of the people 
on so grave a matter, to stand in the nature of instructions by the people to their agents. 
The later constitution made special provision for this. 



314 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

also. And just what the "contract agreed upon" was, we could not learn. 
Nothing appears of record again until July 2, 1861, when this entry 
ocurrs: "Lexington and St. Louis railroad company against the county 
court of Lafayette county," etc. 

It appears that Judge Tarlton had refused to make the county's sub- 
scription final, because the railroad company did not comply with the 
conditions upon which the county had voted to give its aid. He was sus- 
tained in the refusal by the county court; and thereupon the railroad com-- 
pany locked horns with the court and rushed into a sort of "bulldosing" 
litigation. They obtained a writ of mandamus from the supreme court of 
the State, requiring the county court to "show cause," etc., ajid their 
answer was made July 2, 1861. In this document they recite many points 
of fact elaborately and in detail; but the gist of the whole matter is that the 
county's agent, Judge Tarlton, had subscribed for $450,000 of stock in 
"the said proposed railroad on which the vote of the people had been 
taken in November previous and for no other road" But the railroad 
company had laid out and let contracts for a line greatly different from 
the route and the eastern point named in the proposition voted upon by the 
county; and therefore the court refused to issue bonds or levy any taxes 
or in any way recognize or acknowledge that the railroad company had 
any soi t of legal claim upon the county. 

The railroad company had fixed their initial point at Farmers City, 
fourteen miles farther east than the point darned by the voters of Lafay- 
ette county, and to reach Lexington from that place they had run a line 
as crooked as a dog's hind leg over the eastern part of Lafayette county 
with about eighteen miles more of road to build, besides one costlv bridge 
more than was called for by the route voted upon. They also showed 
fraudulent and illegal procedures by the railroad board of directors. But 
now the war came on and interpreted all further proceedings in the mat- 
ter on either side until January 2, 1866, when the county court filed an 
additional answer to the mandamus of 1861, reciting reasons which enti- 
tled them to judgment, and to be dismissed from court, and they were so 
dismissed. 

In January and February, 1868, meetings were held at about twenty 
different places in the county, with a view of voting $500,000 to any rail- 
road company that would build a line entirely across the county. A 
printed list of speakers at these meetings shows the names of Judge 
Norman Lackland, Judge Wm. T. Wood, Judge Wm. Walker, Col. 
John Reid, Dr. J. G. Russell, E. Winsor, Esq., H. C. Wallace, Esq.; Col. 
Mark L. De Motte, John R. Bennett, Esq., and M. F. Gordon, Esq. 

The result of these meetings was a petition to the county court for an 
order of election. The election was ordered to be held on March 7, 1868, 
and the conditions specified were, that the road should run through the 



HISTORY OF LA.YFAETTE COUNTY. 315 

county so as to accommodate the largest farming interest and the great- 
est number of citizens, and should establish a depot in the city of Lexing- 
ton. Also, no bonds should be issued until enough had been subscribed 
along the line to grade and tie it from Louisiana, Mo., to the west line of 
Lafayette county; and all of this county's subscription should be used for 
work within the county. These were the safeguards which were thrown 
around the proposition. The result of the vote was: 

For Against 

Townships. Bonds. Bonds. Choice of Roads. 

Clay 131 143 Louisiana, 131 

Davis 68 17 " 51 St. Louis. 28 

Dover 144 26 " 146 . 

Freedom 35 262 

Lexington 763 73 " 754 " 9 

Middleton 132 21 

Sniabar 1 173 

Washington 29 148 

Total 1,303 863 1,082 37 

So $500,000 of county bonds were voted to be issued to the Louisiana 
and Missouri river railroad, by 440 majority. But the terms were never 
met, and these bonds were never issued; yet this company's claim was 
eventually intermixed with that of the old original bonds voted for the 
Lexington and St. Louis road, and in that way were forced out. See 
book 12, page 275, of county records, under date of August 2, 1870. 

The above election was held, upon the assurance of some of the ablest 
lawyers in the state, that the old original bonds voted to the Lexington 
and St. Louis railroad in 1859 were dead, outlawed, utterly defunct, 
beyond any possibility of resurrection as a claim against Lafayette county. 
But in spite of this, on April 9, 1868, immediately following the election, 
the attorney of the Lexington and St. Louis railroad company, Amos 
Green, appeared before the county court and made three several motions, 
trying to get the court to issue the bonds that had been voted, but the 
motions were all overruled. 

The railroad company then entered suit in the court of common pleas 
(we have no such court now) against the county court. This cause had 
fourteen several hearings before that court, and finally, July 7, 1868, a per- 
emptory writ of mandamus was issued, requiring the county court to issue 
to the Lexington and St. Louis railroad company bonds to the amount of 
$498,750.* The county court thereupon issued the bonds, under protest, 
and so they got out upon the market. 

November, 1868, George H. Ambrose took his seat as one of the 
county judges, the others being Jesse Schofield and N. W. Letton. From 

* $1250 of the original $500,000 had already been issued and used up on the surveys 
within^he county. 



316 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

this time forward numerous issues were made of county and township 
bonds, which subsequently came into sharp and protracted litigation. 

May 5, 1869, Geo. H. Ambrose, president of the county court, was 
elected president of the Lexington and St. Louis railroad company also. 
The Lafayette county men who were directors at this time were Gen. J. 
O. Shelby, Judge G. H. Ambrose, H. J. Higgins, C. B. Russell, Fletcher 
Patrick, Amos Green and James H. Beatty. 

May 18 work was commenced at Lexington on the Lexington and St. 
Louis railroad, and this was the first railroad work done in Lafayette 
county. Wood and Lillis were the contractors. 

September 25, 1869, Dover township voted a township tax of $25,000 
to aid the proposed Louisiana and Missouri River railroad. These bonds, 
however, were never issued; and $10,000 of county bonds issued for this 
road were afterward declared void — illegal — by the U. S. circuit court, in 
November, 1875. 

October 18, 1869, twenty-five resident free-holders of Sniabar township 
petitioned for an election, so the county records say, to vote $35,000 of 
township bonds to aid in the construction of "the Lexington, Chillicothe 
and Gulf railroad." The election was ordered for Nov. 13, 1869. 

December 6, 1869, the court recites that the following townships have 
voted, by over two-thirds majority, their township bonds to aid in the con- 
struction of "the Lexington, Chillicothe and Gulf railroad": 

Lexington township voted $75,000 

Sniabar " " 35,000 

Washington " " 75,000 

And the court on that day ordered the said subscriptions to be made in 
accordance with the propositions in each township and the votes given 
thereon. (Record book No. 11, pp. 459-60.) 

April 7, 1860, Dover and Middleton townships held elections to vote 
$50,000 of their township bonds to aid the Louisiana and Missouri River 
railroad. The law disfranchising partisans of the rebellion was still in 
force; but to meet this obnoxious condition both registered and unregis- 
tered men were called upon to vote, and the result was thus: 

For Bonds. Ag'nt Bonds. Majorities. 

Dover township — Registered votes 126 34 92 

Unregistered " 14 8 6 

Totals 140 42 98 

Middleton township — Registered votes 80 16 64 

Unregistered " 73 15 58 

Totals 153 31 122 

The great mass of the disfranchised refused to vote at all, but on the 
contrary held a remonstrance meeting at Oakland church, in Dover town- 







i? 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 317 

ship, on April 11, four days after the election, and among other things 
adopted the following: 

"Resolved, That we consider said election, by which our burdensome 
taxes are to be so fearfully increased, is an intolerable outrage upon the 
rights of disfranchised property holders." In another resolution they 
pledged themselves to subscribe individually at the rate of $1.25 per acre 
on their land to the stock of the railroad company, in lieu of the bonds 
that had been so unreasonably voted upon them. And to secure subscrip- 
tions or pledges for this scheme, a committee was appointed, as follows: 
L. G. Manypenny, W. Liese, J. Zentmeyer, G. Gorder, J. Peacock, J. J. 
Board, J. Lewisand Isaac Neale. The secretary of the meeting, Wm. G. 
Neale, was instructed to send a copy of the proceedings to the president 
of the L. & M. R. railroad company, and also to each of the county 
papers for publication. Frank M. Field was chairman of the meeting. 

The road was projected to cross the Missouri river at Glasgow, and run 
thence by the straightest practicable route to Lexington. The Lexington 
Register the next week after the above vote was taken, and meeting held, 
said editorially: "We have reliable information that this road will be put 
under contract through this county in May next" (within a month). But 
the road was never built, and the bonds as voted were declared by the 
courts to be illegal. 

July 19, 1870, a few citizens, 25 perhaps, petitioned the county court to 
authorize a township election on a proposition to vote $75,000 of bonds to 
aid in building the Northwestern branch of the Tebo & Neosho railroad. 
The election was ordered for August 20, 1870. On August 2d the court 
granted the right-of-way for this railroad across the public highways in 
Middleton, Davis and Freedom townships, as the proposition was to build 
from Waverly southward through those townships to a junction with the 
grade of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad. J. D. Miller, L. L. Johnson, 
and Paul Boob were the judges of this bond election — and the result of 
the vote was: For the bonds, 76; against bonds, 2 — majority for bonds, 
74. The record shows that 16 of those who voted for the bonds were 
colored men; and that the disfranchising clause of the constitution of 1865 
was still in force. Gen. J. O. Shelby had the contract to build the road; 
work was commenced, and enough done to require the issue of $17,000 
out of the $75,000 authorized, then it stopped and the whole thing went 
dead. But the people had the $17,000 to pay, just the same. Neosho is 
the county seat of Newton county, in the southwest corner of the state; 
and this road was originally projected from there up northeasterly to 
Warsaw, on the Osage river near the mouth of Tebo creek, in Benton 
county; hence the "Tebo" in the name of this railroad had no reference 
to Tabo creek in Lafayette county. 

H 



318 HISTORx OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

taxpayers' CONVENTIONS. 

The Lexington Intelligencer of February 10, 1875, contains a report of 
a committee appointed by a taxpayers' convention on December 18, 1874, 
consisting of Wm. T. Gammon, Wm. C. Beatie, J. C. Lockhart, W. B. 
Major, A. A. Lesueur. Their report is a lengthy and elaborate docu- 
ment, of very great practical importance at the time, and furnishing many 
staple facts in the mixed and troublesome history of this matter. A few 
curiosities of the pool of tribulation are here noted: $75,000 of bonds 
charged to Lexington township had been issued to the St. Louis & St. 
Joseph railroad in Ray county, which never built a dollar's worth of any- 
thing in Lafayette county. These bonds were afterwards declared void 
by the courts. It was also proved in court that they had been fraudu- 
lently delivered by a county judge, for a bribe of $200. $35,000 of bonds 
charged to Sniabar township, for the Lexington, Chillicothe & Gulf rail- 
road, had been issued on a vote of 41 persons, mostly non-taxpayers, at a 
time when ] 75 of the property owners were disfranchised. $75,000 of 
similar bonds charged to Washington township had been issued in the 
same way. $498,700 of county bonds had been issued by the county 
court under mandamus from the court of common pleas, but under protest 
from the county court and people. Some of the bonds had been issued 
clandestinely by one of the judges, who afterwards secured the signature 
of another one. Some of them had been issued by a judge who was presi- 
dent of the county court, and also at the same time president of the rail- 
road company receiving the bonds. $500,000 of bonds for the Louisiana 
& Missouri River railroad company were afterward declared void by the 
courts. Indeed, the facts brought out showed that there was a perfect 
witches'-broth of corruption stewing in Lafayette county, and other 
counties, too, under the evil eye of a " railroad ring." 

RAILROAD BONDS OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY AND OF THE SEVERAL TOWN- 
SHIPS. 

As officially reported by the County Clerk, Dec. iy, 1&J5. 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

To whom issued Amount What for Date of issue When due 

Lex. & St. L. R. R. $ 75,000 Sub to stock Jan. 1, 1869 Jan. 1,1879* 

182,000 " •< Jan. 1, 1869 Jan. l,1879f 

190,000 " " Sep. 1, 1869 Sep. 1, 1879 

230,000 " " Aug. 1, 1870 Aug.l, 1880 

15,000 " " May 1, 1871 May 1, 1881 

11,000 Funding Aug 12,1870 Jan. 1, 1879* 

$100 Bonds 

*The rate of interest on these bonds was six per cent, payable in currency. 
fThe interest on this issue was six per cent payable in gold. The rate of interest on all 
the other bonds was ten per cent payable in currency. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



319 



LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

Amount What for Date of issue When due 

$ 37,500 Sub. to stock Sep 10, 1868 Sep. 1, 1878 

37,500 " " Mar 15,1869 Mar.15,1879 

75,000 " " July 19, 1870 July 19,1875 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

Lex. C. & Gulf R. R. $. 15,000 Sub to stock July 19, 1870 July 19, 1875 



To whom issued 

St.L. &St. Jo. R.R. 

u u a tt 

Lex. C. & Gulf R. R. 



15,000 
15,000 
15,000 
15,000 
15,000 

SNIABAR TOWNSHIP. 



1877 
187T 

1S79 

1881 
1883 



Lex. C. & Gulf R. R. $ 



7,000 Sub to stock July 19, 1870 July 19, 1875 

7,000 " " " " " 1877 

« u u j } oqo « « « « « 1879 

" " " 7,000 « " " " " 1881 

" " " 7,000 " " " " " 1883 

MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP. 

N.W.Tebo&N.R.R. $17,000 Bal. to stock Aug 20, 1870 Aug 5,1876$ 

FREEDOM TOWNSHIP. 

Lex. & St. L. R. R. $ 25,000 Sub. to stock April 3, 1871 April 3, 1876$ 

DAVIS TOWNSHIP. 

Lex. & St. L. R. R. $ 10,000 Sub. to stock April 3, 1S71 April 3, 1876$ 

The total combined debt of the county, as shown by this official report, 
(which included some other debts not of railroad, and therefore not given 




in our table,) was $1,384,099. And the total assessed valution, including 
real estate, personal property, merchants' stock, etc., was at that time 
$7,845,371. The bonded debt, therefore, was 17^ per cent of the entire 
valuation : and most of the debt a swindle on the people besides. The 
map given above shows the different lines of railroad which were at that 
time promised. 

{Interest ten per cent payable semi-annually. 



320 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

THE R. R. BONDED DEBT COMPROMISE 

Through a series of Taxpayers' Conventions it had been shown beyond 
a question or a quibble that the railroad bonds both of county and town- 
ships, were essentially fraudulent; but they had been foisted upon the 
market under such cunningly devised seemings of legality as to give them 
a status in the courts, and therefore some chance for judicial enforcement, 
even after long and costly litigation by the county in contesting them. In 
view of this state of facts, it was thought best to propose such com- 
promises as the creditors would probably accede to rather than worry the 
matter through the courts. Some of the largest holders of the county bonds 
had through their agent, Col. M. V. L. McClelland, agreed to a com- 
promise of 80 cents on the dollar at 6 instead of 10 per cent, interest; and 
it was presumed that many others would do the same. The following 
schedule shows the different compromises finally proposed by the Tax- 
payers' Convention held November 29th, 1875: 

Old rate of 
interest. 

County bonds 10 per ct. 

(( u Q tt 

Lexington township, L. & 

G. railroad bonds .... 10 " 

Freedom township 10 " 

Davis 10 " 

Washington 10 " 

Sniabar 10 " 

Middleton 10 " 

All bonds to run twenty-five years, interest payable semi-annually. The 
different funding rates offered by the different townships are based on 
ability to pay, juslice of the debt, prospect of defeating the bondholders in 
case of contest in the courts, etc. 

At this convention every township in the county was well represented^ 
as follows: 

Clay— Strother Renick, Thos. Bates, M. M. Robinson, Samuel Hull, 
C.J. Miller, J. B. McDonald, Thos. McCleary, James Belt, J. C. Arm- 
strong, S. W. McBurney, W. B. Corse, B. F. Hammer, S. W. Creasy. 

Davis— H. J. Higgins, W. C. Beatty, W. A. Nutter, L. Groom, J. 
Gladdish, Geo. P. Gordon. 

Dover — Wm. Liese, Wm. Carter, R. Barley, Wm. Kirtley, Isaac 
Neale, J. J. Fleming. 

Freedom — J. F. Downing, W. A. Thornton, W. Boone Major, N. J. 
Cox. 

Lexington — (City and Township) — L. Green, Joseph Davis, Thomas 
Shelby, L. B. Gordon, J. R. Ford, Xenophon Ryland, W. T. Gammon,. 
A. J. Slusher, John Reid, W. T. Hays, H. C. Wallace, R. J. Smith, S. G. 
Wentworth, Robert Hale, J. F. Smith, J. McFadden, C. E. Lankford, 



, 



Refunding rate for bonds 
and past dtie coupons. 

80 cents on the dollar. 


New rate of 
interest. 

6 per ct. 


70 


a 


6 


cc 


60 


« 


6 


Ci 


80 


u 


6 


a 


80 " 


(t 


6 


u 


50 


<< 


6 


u 


40 


«c 


6 


u 


80 


c< 


6 


u 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 321 

Joseph Benton, John Howe, Wm. Limrick, John Catron, A. A. Lesueur, 
Geo. S. Rathbun, Z. S. Mitchell, H. C. Boteler. 
Middleton.—C. C. Catron, D. J. Waters, O. H. P. Catron, T. M. Lake, 

A. T. Winsor, A. Corder, J. M. Hopkins, M. T. Buford. 
Sniabar.—]. W. Bledsoe, W.J. Shackleford, J. T. Ferguson, R. T. Rus- 
sell, P. A. Ferguson. 

Washington. — C. L. Ewing, Dyer Sherwood, David McKinney, M. R. 
Henry, J. J. Browning, A. B. Hatch, Robert Matthews, C. McGirl, W. 

B. Steele. 

The officers of this final convention were, Charles L. Ewing, president; 
W. T. Gammon, vice-president; X. Ryland, secretary. 

The committee which reported the compromise propositions as finally 
adopted, consisted of W. C. Beattie, R. T. Russell, C. C. Catron, M. R. 
Henry, Wm. Limrick, W. B. Major, James Fleming, and Wm. Corse. 

The members of the county court, and the agents of the holders of all 
the various bonds in question, were invited to be present during the pro- 
ceedings of the convention. 

At this time the county and townships together were under a claimed 
indebtedness of $238,750 for the L. C. & G. railroad alone, which never 
finished a mile of road in the county. 

The following resolution was offered by W. B. Steele: 

Resolved, That this convention pledges the people of Lafayette county 
to the faithful performance of the compromise offered, as it is made in 
good faith by their representatives in convention assembled, as the only 
means and hope left the people, and beyond which they cannot go; and 
that if it is not accepted by the bondholders, we pledge each other to use 
every effort to prevent the payment of one dollar of the railroad indebted- 
ness of the county. 

And it was unanimously adopted. 

The election on the compromise propositions was 
1875, and resulted as follows': 

County proposition, total county vote 1645 

Lexington township proposition 346 

Freedom 
Davis 

Washington 

Sniabar 

Middleton 



held 


December 30, 


For. 


Against. 


Majority. 


645 


70 


1575 


346 


10 


336 


201 


5 


196 


134 


1 


133 


119 


34 


85 


127 


17 


110 


146 


22 


124 



Some holders of these railroad bonds refused to accept the compromise 
offered, but entered suits and obtained judgment in the United States cir 
cuit court, and writs of mandamus to enforce the judgments. This was 
openly resisted by township conventions, and then by a countv convention 
composed of delegates from every township. This convention was held 
December 24, 1877, and it declared by a unanimous vote that they had a 



322 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 






full determination to never pay any more on those bonds than the pro- 
posed compromise provided for, and that they would resist by all means 
in their power, all attempts by judgment of court, or in any other way, 
to collect interest or principal on any of the bonds not compromised. 

February 1, 1878, a meeting of the tax-payers of Sniabar township was 
held at Dade's school-house, to hear the report of a committee previously 
appointed to investigate the legal or illegal character of the $35,000 of 
their township bonds issued' to the Lexington, Chillicothe & Gulf railroad. 
The committee consisted of Wm. Harris, Geo. W. Jones, M. T. P. McCor- 
mack, A. C. Green, R. H. Bledsoe. Their report cites the express dec- 
laration of the state constitution, [Art. 99, Sec. 14], that no municipal 
bonds shall be issued to any corporation unless voted for by two-thirds of 
the qualified voters of the township, county or city, as the case may be. 
The vote on those bonds was taken November 13, 1869. The registered 
voters of Sniabar township then numbered 102;* of this number, 47 voted 
for the bonds, and 6 against them ; two-thirds of 102 would be 58 ; but the 
actual majority for the bonds was only 41, which fell short by 27 votes of 
the majority required to make these bonds lawful. They, therefore, 
recommended a united and continued resistance by every means in their 
power to the payment of the bonds, which the county court had issued in 
spite of the fact that they never received a lawful majority, even when 
the great bulk of the tax-payers were disfranchised. It is worthy of note 
also, that this road was graded, but never laid a rail, and the grade lies to 
this day unused. 

February 4, 1878, the county committee, composed of representative 
men appointed by each township, held a meeting, and solemnly reiterated 
" the determination only to pay county bonds according to the compro- 
mise authorized by the vote of the people in the election held on Decem- 
ber 30, 1875." (When this last vote was taken, no voters were disfran- 
chised, and it was in every respect the lawfully expressed will of the 
people). 

February 23d, a joint meeting of Sniabar and Washington townships 
was held at Mount Hope, with the same result as above, besides showing 
that the unbuilt railroad for which their bonds had been fraudulently 
issued, was graded on a different route, and to different points from those 
named in the proposition as voted upon. This was another fraud. 

FIGHTING IT OUT IN THE COURTS. 

May 6, 1878, the supreme court of Missouri, in the case of Thomas A. 
Webb vs. Lafayette county, decided the legislative act of March 23, 1868, 
to be unconstitutional, and bonds issued under it void. This was a case 

* At this date, 175 voters of Sniabar township were disfranchised on account of having 
joined or sympathized with the Southern Confederacy as against the federal government. 
And they were mostly the real property owners of the township. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. , 323 

involving the Sniabar township bonds to the L.,C. &G. road, and county- 
bonds to the L. & St. L. road. The "opinion" of the court is a lengthy 
document, making two and a half long newspaper columns in nonpareil 
(very fine) type. But the gist of the whole matter important to this his- 
tory, lies in a single sentence, as follows: 

The constitution prescribes, as a prerequisite to any subscription, that 
two-thirds of the qualified voters shall assent to it. The act of 1868 
requires only the assent of two-thirds of those voting, and because of the 
repugnance to the constitution, we hold it to be void. 

In October, 1875, the United States supreme court had decided substan- 
tially the same way, in the case of Harshman vs. Bates County, involving 
bonds issued in the name of Mount Pleasant township, in Bates county, 
for this same Lexington, Chillicothe & Gulf railroad. The case had been 
appealed from the United States district court. There were several tech- 
nical points considered in this decision, but it was very decisive that the 
issuance of the bonds was contrary to the constitution of the state. 

July 1, 1880, the county clerk's report shows that $578,900 of the Lex- 
ington and St. Louis railroad count)- bonds had already been compromised ; 
$135,900 of them had been purchased by the county and canceled; and 
there were still $44,900 outstanding. At this same time the township 
debts on railroad bonds were: 

Am't of 
Township. Railroad Company. Bonds Out. Interest Due. 

Davis L. & St. L. R. R $10,000 .... from April 3, 1875 

Freedom.... " " 25,000 " " 

Lexington Chil. & Gulf 75,000 .... from July 19, 1872 

Middleton Tebo & Neosho 17,000 from Aug. 20, 1874 

Sniabar Chil. & Gulf 35,000 . . .from July 19, 1872 

Washington Chil. & Gulf 75,000 .... from July 19, 1872 

November 1879, before the U. S. circuit court, at Jefferson City, an 
agreed state of facts was presented by the attorneys in the case of James 
H. Forbes vs. Lafayette county. M. L. Gray and Joseph Shippen were 
attorneys for Forbes, and Alexander Graves for the county. The case 
involved the legality of the Lexington township bonds issued to the St. 
Louis and St. Joseph railroad company, November 2, 1868. There were 
eighteen several points of fact agreed upon and subscribed by the attor- 
neys on both sides; and No. XI of these points contains this statement: 
" That $37,000 of the bonds issued to said company by the county court 
of said county on behalf of said township were delivered to one Wasson, 
a director in the said company, by one Vivian Letton, then a justice of 
said county, in consideration of a bribe of $200 paid to said Letton by 
said Wasson after consultation had with the board of directors of said 
company." 

The main condition of issue of these bonds was that the railroad com- 



324 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

pany should establish and permanently maintain a depot on the south side 
of the Missouri river, within the city of Lexington. Judge Letton held 
them in trust for safe keeping until their terms should be complied 
with, but violated his trust by delivering them for a bribe of $200. The 
affidavit on this matter also mentioned that the railroad board of directors 
when considering the $200 proposition, thought the judge's terms cheap, 
and authorized the payment of his price. The court decided these bonds 
illegal, but on other grounds than this; and this point is cited here to show 
how the people were betrayed by their most trusted servants. Judge 
Letton afterwards went crazy, but Judge Ambrose went to Florida. 

SEIZING A RAILROAD TRAIN FOR TAXES. 

July 7, 1875, the county court ordered a levy of the taxes due upon the 
property in Lafayette county of the Atlantic & Pacific railroad company, 
which had bought the Lexington & St. Louis railroad. This order recited 
in detail the amount of track, road bed, depots, rolling stock, etc., within 
the county belonging to said railroad company, and also the amout of tax 
due thereon, item by item, as fixed by the state board of equalization; and 
the total amount was $6,277.07^. At this time Dr. Wm. A. Gordon was 
the county tax collector, and Wm. B. Steele, county clerk. The railroads 
generally in the state had evaded payment of their taxes by various sub- 
terfuges in different counties, or by outright intimidation of public officers 
in giving them to understand that if they seized any railroad property thev 
would be prosecuted for damages. To lock horns with a powerful rail- 
road companv, and take the risk on the uncertain sinuosities of legal pro- 
cedure, was no trifling matter; but the officers of Lafayette county had 
some of Gen. Jackson's " by-the-eternal" sort of grit in their make up, 
and they " took the bull by the horns " forthwith. 

Dr. Gordon, as tax collector, on August 19, 1875, seized one locomo- 
tive, nine box cars, three stock cars, and one passenger coach, at Lexing- 
ton, chained them fast, under guard and held them as security for the 
railroad company's unpaid taxes. The railroad company immediately 
entered suit against him in the circuit court of Lafayette county for $20,- 
000 damages and costs. In April, 1876, they procured a transfer of the case 
to the U. S. district court, on the plea that the prejudice of the commu- 
nity would prevent them from getting justice in Lafayette county, and also 
that the complainant was in law a resident of another state, the railroad 
company's corporate place of business being in New York city. 

In order to bring out and authenticate this matter more clearly, we here 
copy from the official record of Dr. Gordon's sworn testimony in regard 
to his own proceedings: 

I was collector of revenue for Lafayette countv, for two terms, viz: 
From the first of February, 1873, to the first of January, 1877. Was 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 325 

elected at the November election, 1872, for two years, and was my own 
successor, being elected again at the November election, 1874, for the term 
of two years from the first of February, 1875. The clerk of the county 
court, William B. Steele, made out and delivered to me as such collector 
ab6ut March 31, 1875, the certified statement of the taxes of that date in 
evidence, against the Atlantic & Pacific railroad company for the year 
1873, and I was directed also by the county court to levy the same on "the 
railroad property, in case of default in paying same. I demanded pay- 
ment of the taxes due, of said company, through its officers, and said com- 
pany having failed to pay the same, I, on the 19th of May, 1875, by virtue 
of said certified statement, levied on the cars of said railroad company as 
set out in my return in said statement; I chained down, and locked these 
cars on the track of the railroad, near the depot at Lexington, Missouri, 
and put a guard there to watch and guard them, to prevent the railroad 
men from removing them, and advertised them for sale, as required by 
law, for ten days, keeping them guarded and locked down all the time. 
On the day they were advertised for sale the Atlantic & Pacific railroad 
company by suit of replevin against me in this court, replevined and took 
said cars out of my possession, giving bond with security approved by the 
sheriff in the sum of $40,000, and claiming damages against me in the 
sum of $25,000. 

The next year the same proceedings occurred; but by the third year 
the whole business was in court, and the Lexington & St . Louis railroad 
was in the hands of a " receiver in bankruptcy." However, to present 
more fully the situation in this year, 1875, we copy the following from the 
records of the suit brought in April, 1876, against Wm. B. Steele, the 
county clerk. After reciting the bill of taxes made out and certified by 
the county clerk, the railroad company as complainant goes on to say: 

All of which was done without any authority or warrant from any law 
of this state. That afterwards the said defendant [W. B. Steele] placed 
the said statement in the hands of the t^x collector of Lafayette county, 
and directed the said collector to collect the said pretended taxes and 
penalties out of the property of the Atlantic & Pacific railroad company; 
and afterwards at the special instance and direction of said defendant the 
said collector did levy upon and seize a certain locomotive engine and cer- 
tain cars which belonged to the said plaintiff and which had never belonged 
to-the said Lexington & St. Louis railroad company, and in which the 
said last named corporation did not at the time of said levy, have any 
interest, nor had it even had any therein. 

And the said collector, Gordon, retained said property for the term of 
ten days, to the great loss and damage of plaintiff, amounting to the sum 
of five thousand dollars, for which sum, with interest and costs, plaintiff 
prays judgment. 

The legal point raised was, that the taxes were due from the Lexing- 
ton & St. Louis railroad company, but that the property seized belonged 
to the Atlantic & Pacific R. R. Co. This proved to be technically true — 
but, in fact, it was one of the many artful dodges by which railroad com- 
panies had too long succeeded in evading their taxes. The county officers 



326 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

could not know all the " inner intricacies " of the various transfers which 
had heen made by the four different railroad managements which had at 
different times controlled the Lexington road, but they did know that the 
taxes were due and unpaid, and they proposed to collect them — which 'the 
same they did. 

April 12, 1876, the county court employed A. F. Alexander and Ryland 
& Ryland, as attorneys " for the defense of the interests of the county in 
the tax suits brought by the Atlantic & Pacific railroad company against 
the collector and clerk of this court." The suits were carried into the U. 
S. district court at St. Louis, then transferred to a similar court at Jeffer- 
son City. But meanwhile the L. & St. L. R. R. Company had become 
bankrupt; and while the county had gained its cases against the railroad 
company, on the main issue; yet, in this particular instance the attorneys 
had to take what they could get. And On May 11, 1877, Xenophon 
Ryland filed the attorney's report. The important points of this repotr 
we here report from the county record: " The claim was settled by com- 
promise, and judgment and allowance rendered in favor of Lafayette 
county, state of Missouri, for the sum of eighteen thousand dollars, 
against the estate of Lexington & St. Louis railroad cdmpany, bankrupt, 
on the 9th day of May, 1877, in the U. S. district court for the western 
district of Missouri, at Jefferson City." 

The total cost of all the suits, attorneys' fees and incidental expenses 
was $3,815.50, leaving $14,184.50, which Mr. X. Ryland paid over to the 
county treasurer, and the county court ratified and confirmed the action of 
its attorneys. 

This case has an important historic interest, for it was the first time in 
the state that county officers had seized railroad property for delinquent 
taxes and carried their point. It was a test case and settled the question for 
every county in the state for all time. There has been no trouble since in 
collecting railroad taxes; these corporations now " step up to the captain's 
office," and pay their dues with commendable promptness — a very healthy 
practice which Lafayette county rightly claims the honor of bringing 
into fashion. 

In the final settlement and disposal of the funds in these tax-levy suits, 
the commissions and incidental expenses of the collector were overlooked 
and not allowed him. He brought suit in the circuit court to recover his 
claim from the county, but was defeated. He appealed to the state 
supreme court, and the case at this writing (August, 1881), still remains 
there unsettled. Wallace & Chiles are his attorneys. 

DATE OF OPENING OF OUR RAILROAD LINES. 

In October, 1868, the railroad now known as the St. Louis & Wabash, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 327 

was completed to a station four miles from Lexington, on the north side 
of the river. 

In 1869, the Lexington & St. Joseph railroad was completed to the 
north bank of the river, opposite Lexington. 

In 1870-71, the road-bed of the "Lexington Lake and Gulf" line was 
completed from Lexington southward through the count}-; but the com- 
pany failed, and no ties or rails were ever laid on it. 

In March 1871, the line now known as the " Missouri Pacific " was 
completed from Lexington to Sedalia. 

In 1876, the Narrow Gauge line was completed from Kansas City to 
Lexington without any bonds. 

In 1878, the Chicago & Alton railroad was completed across the county 
from east to west. At that time bonds could not be lawfully voted; but 
the people of the county had to give the right of way and depot grounds, 
free, and $50,000 in money besides, as private donations, in order to secure 
the road. 

There are now (1881; three branch railroads terminating at Lexington, 
and every one of them is under the control of Jay Gould, or what is 
known as the " Wabash & St. Louis combination. " 

THE RAILROAD PROJECT. 

In 1868-69-70, it was confidently believed by the railroad partisans 
that in two or three years there would be six railroads coming into Lex- 
ington, and a railroad bridge spanning the river here. Out of this faith 
grew the scheme for a grand railroad hotel worthy of the situation. The 
grade of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad (now Missouri Pacific) termin- 
ated at South street between Elm and Lynn streets, and here the great 
hotel was erected, the remains of which appear in desolate grandeur to 
this day. The building was erected in 1870-71, at a cost of ^85,000; it 
was a joint stock enterprise, and the county took $20,000 of stock in it. 
B. H. Wilson was the architect and builder; Geo. Farrar did the brick 
work, and manufactured all the bricks at his brick yard which is still in 
operation, on Graham's branch. The whole scheme proved a disastrous 
failure; and in 1879 the building was sold for delinquent taxes. Many 
car loads of the bricks have been shipped away to Sedalia and Kansas 
City, and enough still remain to build another small city — another child 
out of the loins of Lexington. 



328 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

RAILROAD VALUATION, 1880. 

[Lexington and St. Louis R. R., leased by the Missouri Pacific R. R. Co.] 

Miles of Value of Total value Val. rolling Total 

track. buildings. in twp. stock etc. taxes. 

Freedom twp 12.50 . . . $1,700 . . . $63,961 25 

Davis twp 4.50 700 23,114 05 

Dover twp 4.00 1,000 20,923 60 

Lexington twp 7.25 2,000 38,111 52 



Total in county 28.25 $5,400 $146,110 42 $13,585 42 $584 44 

[Kansas City and Eastern (narrow gauge,) leased by Mo. Pacific Co.] 

Clay twp 8.82 $250 $38,299 48 

Lexington twp . . . 5.03 200 21,899 42 

Total in county 13.85 $450 $60,198 90 $11,273 90 $240 79 

[Chicago and Alton R. R.] 

Middleton twp 6.40 $550 $66,363 75 

Dover twp 5.69 400 58,890 84 

Davis twp 4.34 650 45,306 40 

Washington twp 10.19 550 105,248 09 

Clay twp 7.80 1,290 81,400 37 

Sniabar twp 2.26 23,303 89 

Total in county 36.71 $3,440 $380,513 34 $302,035 00 $1,522 05 

[Western Union Telegraph lines.] 
On Mo. Pacific R. R., one wire 28.25 m. Total value $1,836 25. 
Chicago & Alton R. R. two wires, 37 m. Total value $3,145 00. Total 
tax $19.92. 
The above is the assessment by state board of equalization for 1880. 
The following is the assessment by the county court for the same year, 
including both state and county taxes: 

Total value Total tax. 

iD county. 

Lexington & St. Louis R. R $151,480 65 $2,702 34 

K., Chicago and Eastern * 64,065 80 1,116 83 

Chicago & Alton 382,909 09 6,760 09 

West. Union Tel. Co 4,98125 88 40 

In addition to the foregoing, there are twenty-five miles of graded road- 
bed, extending from Lexington to Chapel Hill, and known as the Lexing- 
ton, Lake & Gulf railroad, running through Lexington, Washington, and 
Sniabar townships, and built mostly with the bonds of these townships. 
A deed of trust on this property was foreclosed in 1877, and was bid in 
by Henry L. Newman, of St. Louis, trustee. It is supposed that he sold 
it to the C, B. & Q. R. R. Co., of Chicago, and that they will ultimately 
extend their Burlington and Southwestern line over it, crossing the Mis- 
souri river at Lexington. [See under head of " River surveys and sound- 
ings, for railroad-bridge matter.] The grade is considerably damaged by 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 329 

rains and floods, but it could be all repaired in a fortnight by a live company. 
It is not subject to taxation as it now lies; hence, valuation cannot be given. 



WAR HISTORY. 



FIRST TROOPS RAISED. 



The first military company raised, in 1861, in Lafayette county was a 
company at Lexington, commanded by a Capt. John Tyler. This was 
composed of men of all shades of political opinion, the most of whom were 
of mature years. It was intended for "home protection," and to enforce 
a sort of " armed neutrality," a policy then much discussed. It was neither 
for the " south" or for the " north," but for peace, and for the protection 
of the citizens of Lafayette county from the invasion of their territory by 
either the confederate or federal forces. The company drilled on different 
occasions, but soon disbanded, as affairs assumed a condition not permit- 
ting neutrality. Capt. Tyler afterward entered the federal army. 

On receipt of the news of the capture of Camp Jackson, and the firing 
on the citizens of St. Louis by the federals under Gen. Lyon, May 10, 
1861, there was the most intense excitement in the county. Preparations 
were begun for war. Meetings were held, and measures, to organize 
military companies to assist in defending the state against the incursions 
and encroachments of the federals, were taken all over the county. There 
were many men in the county who had seen military service, and these 
were looked to, for the main part for counsel, advice, assistance, and lead- 
ership. 

The unconditional union men of the county were largely in the minority; 
the secessionists — or at least the conditional secessionists — were not only in 
the majority, but were bold, defiant, and aggressive, and had but little 
patience with or respect for opposition. The union men held a meeting 
at Lexington, in the court-house, about the middle of May. John Flem- 
ing was chairman, and Dr. J. F. Atkinson, secretary. At that time there 
were only about twenty outspoken union men in the town, nearly all of whom 
were in attendance. The stars and strips hung from a staff at ihe chair- 
man's table. The meeting had not progressed far when the secessionists 
who were present, to the number of fifty or more, began violent interrup- 
tions, and at last, under the leadership of one Charles Martin, a man of 
desperate character, silenced a speaker, tore the flag from the hands of 
the secretary, breaking the staff' in the effort, and bearing it in triumph 
from the room. A German citizen, Mr. Nicholas Haerle, a staunch union 
man, attempted to take the flag from Martin and his men, as they were 
leaving the hall, but was shot in the leg by Martin himself, and fell to the 



330 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

floor. The meeting thereupon adjourned without orders, and sine die! 
Thereafter the union men of Lexington were, for a time, less demonstra- 
tive in their loyalty to the federal government. 

On the 20th of x\pril, 1861, the United States arsenal, at Liberty, Clay 
count)-, was siezed by volunteers from different counties in this part of the 
state, and the arms and munitions therein, inconsiderable as to number and 
not very valuable as to character, placed where it was thought they would 
" do the most good" for the state of Missouri. Capt. H. M. Bledsoe, 
Curtis O. Wallace, and other Lafayette county men, assisted in this cap- 
ture which was effected without any difficulty, and it is said by the order 
of Gov. Jackson, certainlv with his connivam e. Bledsoe and Wallace 
brought two of the captured cannon with them back to Lexington as 
their share of the spoils of w r ar. When the cannon arrived at the Lexing- 
ton wharf, a considerable crowd witnessed their delivery on shore with 
great elation. Afterward this feeling was changed to disappointment, for 
upon inspection, the guns, a pair of iron six-pounders, were thought to be 
honeycombed with rust and age, and absolutely worthless, but which in 
time proved to be a mistake. The object of bringing these guns to Lex- 
ington was to form a battery for state service, to be tendered to Gov. 
Jackson, and this was afterward done by Capt. Bledsoe. When the first 
federal troops came to Lexington (Col. Stiefel's regiment) they found one 
of these Liberty arsenal cannon, which the state troops had abandoned as 
worthless. This gun afterwards formed a part of Pirner's battery in the 
battle of Lexington, and- Capt. Pirner says it was the best gun he had — 
would shoot the straightest. 

THE COUNTY MILITIA FUND. 

April 29, 1S61, a petition was presented to the county court by Thomas 
W. Shields, R. M. Henderson, John P. Bowman, and others, asking an 
appropriation " to arm and equip at least one thousand men," etc. The 
court declined to do so until the legislature should pass an act author- 
izing it. 

May 15, the court record refers to " the special act by the general 
assembly of the state for the benefit of Layfayette county, passed May 
14, 1861," and also to the state militia law. The court then appropriated 
$10,000, " or so much thereof as may be needed, for the purpose of arm- 
ing and equipping the volunteer militia of said county for the necessary 
defense thereof, and tor such other purposes connected with the military 
defense of the county and state as the court may deem proper," etc. 
Charles S. Tarlton, one of the judges, was appointed agent to disburse 
this fund. The bonds on which the money was raised, were made pay- 
able in one, two, and three years, at ten per cent interest. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 381 

July 2, 1861, there appears a record of the following sums paid out of the 
above mentioned military fund: 

J. A. Graham's bill for tin-ware $ 24.90 

VVm. Morrison's bill for tin-ware 37.80 

John Aull's bill for tin-ware 95.35 

James M. Baker's bill for tin-ware 75.02 

Henderson & Day's bill for tin-ware . 81.01 

Smith & Hale's bill for tin-ware 503.88 

James S. Lightner's bill for tin-ware 42.00 

Royle, Newman & Co's bill for tin-ware 77.16 

Limrick for blankets 2.00 

Henderson & Day's bill for boots and shoes 4.50 

James A. Fishback, for blankets 25.00 

J. & D. Levey, blankets 7.50 

Royle, Newman & Wells, blankets 5.00 

J. J. Samuels, shirts 5.25 

Paid George Wilson's company 5.00 

B. F. Gordon's receipt 50.00 

Robert Hale, receipt for Lexington company 50.00 

Thomas A. Webb's receipt 50.00 

Thomas Shelby's receipt 20.00 

George P. Gordon's receipt 50.00 

J. R. Graves' receipt 30.00 

Paid H. Reese for caps 20.00 

Paid steambort for carrying troops to Jefferson City 63.00 

Amount loaned to Barton 5.00 



Total $1,329.36 

It is noted that some of these bills were only partly paid; the total 
amount paid was $966.95, the remainder standing as " balance due " on 
them. And no further record appears in this matter until November 5, 
1861, when the following entry was made: "Now, at this day comes 
Henry Neill, county treasurer, and settles with the court here for the fund 
known as the military fund, showing that said fund is now exhausted and 
balanced, which is approved and ordered to be filed." The documents 
filed consist of two warrants drawn on the county military fund, each for 
$500. One bears date May IT, 1861. and the other June 20, 1861. So it 
appears that $1,000 was all that was ever used of the $10,000 which had 
been authorized. 

LAFAYETTE MEN'S FIRST BATTLE. 

About the first of June, a company of United States dragoons from Ft. 
Leavenworth, under command of Capt. S. D. Sturgis, afterward a major 
general, had an encounter with some Jackson county militia under Capt. 
Holloway, who had lately resigned a position in the regular army to offer 
his services to the state of Missouri. In this encounter, which took place 
on Rock Creek, a tributary of the Big Blue, Captain Holloway and Lt. 



332 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

McClenahan, of the Jackson county troops, were killed. Captain J. O. 
Shelby, of Waverly, had raised a company of cavalry, and was in Jack- 
son county when this skirmish took place.* Holloway was in command 
of all of the Jackson county men as colonel. He was a brave and gallant 
officer, and only a few days before he was killed, was at Lexington 
engaged in forming and swearing in men for state service. 

\ Immediately upon receipt of the news of the affair on Rock Creek, 

and the killing of Holloway and McClenahan, several companies of Lafay- 
ette county men were formed and marched to the relief of their Jackson 
county brethren. Capt. Ben. Elliott had one company from about Chapel 
Hill; Capt. J. M. Withers, one from about Mt. Hebron; Capt. Seth Mason, 
one from Davis township; Capt. Webb, one from Dover, and Capt. 
Whiting, one from that vicinity; Dr. Hassell and Capt. Graves had com- 
panies from Lexington. There was also an artillery company, composed 
of men from Lafayette county, and commanded by Capt. H. M. Bledsoe. 
The Lafayette men soon reached the scene of the trouble and went into 
camp on the Blue. This camp was called Camp Holloway, in honor of 
the gallant officer who had fallen but a few days before. The men 
remained there a week or more, when they returned home. 

At first the Lafayette county militia — or state guards as they came to 
be called — were armed, uniformed, and equipped by themselves. The 
infantry and cavalry carried every description of small arms that would 
shoot. There were double-barrel shot-guns (these were the favorite 
weapons, by the way), squirrel rifles, revolvers, pistols, etc., and a few 
sanguinary individuals had bowie knives. 

Bledsoe's lottery was at first composed of two pieces of artillery. One 
gun had been captured by Col. Doniphan at the battle of Sacramento, in 
the Mexican war, given by the United States to the state of Missouri, and 
by the state to Lafayette county. It was of amalgam, brass, copper, sil- 
ver, etc., and was at first a nine-pounder. For a long time it had lain 
about Lexington, being only used on the Fourth of July and at jollifica- 
tions for the purpose of firing salutes. The boys of Lexington were wont 
to charge it half full of powder and brick-bats and fire it with thundering 
reports. This gun was taken to Morrison's foundry and bored out, being 
enlarged to a twelve-pounder. The whole length of the gun was not 
bored ; by some mistake, about four inches of the breech remaining of the 
original caliber. This necessitated the use of a peculiar sort of cartridge, 
and eventually to the condemnation and retirement of the piece from active 
service, since its cartridges could not be obtained from the regular ord- 
nance depots, but had to be manufactured on the field, and material for 
this purpose was not always obtained.' "Old Sacramento," as the gun 
was familiarly known to nearly everybody in Lafayette county, or "Old 

* Edwards, " Shelby and his men," page 28. . / 

V 



I 

/ 




JAMES B. EADS. 

[see page 48.] 




LUCAS MARKET.- 

THE OLDEST MARKET IN ST. LOWS. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 666 

Sac," as Bledsoe's men called it, did good work for the southern cause, 
what time it was in service, however. The artillery men used the femi- 
nine pronoun "she," in speaking of "old Sac," and soon learned to regard 
"her" with a great deal of admiration and affection. At Carthage, Wil- 
son's Creek, Elk Horn, and Pea Ridge, she proved very effective, as tes- 
tified to by the federals themselves. At Memphis, Tennessee, she was 
inspected and condemned, however, and the last heard from her, she lay 
in the confederate navy yard at Mobile, Alabama. The other gun was an 
iron six-pounder, cast in Morrison's foundry. Morrison cast two six- 
pounders, only one of which was used, however, for want of a proper car- 
riage. The other was left on the steps of the masonic college, upon the 
first retreat of the state troops from Lexington.* A brass six-pounder 
was added to the battery from Independence. 

For powder, the Missourians did not lack. Gov. Jackson had sent up into 
this and Saline county, about 10,000 pounds of Laflin's and " Dupart's best," 
which was afterwards distributed among the friends of the southern cause 
for safe keeping. The federals succeeded in capturing some of it at differ- 
ent periods.f It was hid in hay lofts, under bridges, buried in orchards, 
and it is said that at this day there are a few kegs in a house in Lexing- 
ton, lying snugly hidden away between a ceiling and an upper floor. 

RESPONSE TO GOV. JACKSON'S PROCLAMATION. 

June 12, Gov. Jackson issued his proclamation, calling into active service 
50,000 state militia, "for the purpose of repelling invasion, and for the pro- 
tection of the lives, liberty, and property of the citizens of this state." Lex- 
ington was designated as one of the places of rendezvous, and hither 
repaired those desiring to obey the proclamation. Gen. James S. Rains, 
of Jasper county, was appointed brigadier-general for this district, and he 
visited the troops at the camps at Lexington, attended to their organiza- 
tion, and addressed them in an excellent speech. He had previously vis- 
ited Camp Holloway, and directed the men to rendezvous at Lexington. 
The Masonic College and adjacent grounds were chosen for headquarters. 
Here were gathered 1000 men, mostly from this county. A regiment of 
Lafayette men was organized, of which John T. Graves was chosen 

colonel, Cave Kirtley, lieutenant-colonel, and Brazier, major. Capts. 

Withers, Whiting, Percival, Webb, Ferguson, commanded companies. 
Bledsoe's battery was here fully organized, with Hiram M. Bledsoe as 
captain; Curtis O. Wallace, 1st lieutenant; Chas. Higgins, 2d lieutenant; 
Frank S. Trigg, 3d lieutenant. 

*This gun, afterward, formed a part of Pirner's battery, under Col. Mulligan, at the bat- 
tle of Lexington. (See article, "Battle Items"). 

fDec. 20, 1861, Gen. Halleck reported tbat bis troops at Glasgow " bad taken about two 
ton8 of powder in kegs, buried on Jackson's farm." 



334 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

On the 17th of June the first battle at Boonville was fought between 
about 800 state troops under Col. John S. Marmaduke, of Saline county, 
and about the same number of federal troops under Gen. Lyon. The 
state troops numbered in all about 1500 and the federals about 2000, but 
only the numbers named took part in the fight. The state troops were 
repulsed by the well armed and organized federals, and retreated with 
such precipitancy and in such disorder that the affair came to be known 
in Missouri as the " Boonville races." Each side lost but two killed and 
a few wounded. In a few days after the Boonville affair the state troops 
came to the rendezvous at Lexington, uniting with the forces already on 
the ground. Maj. Gen. Sterling Price having some time previously been 
commissioned by Gov. Jackson as general-in-chief of the state troops, or 
Missouri State Guard, assumed command of the state army at Lexing- 
ton. Learning that Lyon was still moving up the river, and being unpre- 
pared to receive him, Gen. Price resolved to retreat to the southwestern 
part of the state. 

C. M. Pirner, of Lexington, says the way this happened was: A young 
fellow named Brown, who was a printer in the Lexington Expositor print- 
ing office, suggested a plan to have some fun, but the affair was never 
known onlv to Pirner, Brown, James Curry, and a young telegraph ope- 
rator whose name he cannot now remember. The joke as carried out 
was as follows: The telegraph operator had a pocket instrument of his 
own. The telegraph at that time went easward by way of Waverly. He, 
Pirner, and the operator went out a little way east of Old Town, after it 
was all dark and quiet for the night, and managed to reach the telegraph 
wire and hitch on the pocket instrument. The Lexington office was called 
until it made answer, and then it was informed: "The federals have left 
Marshall for Lexington, may arrive any minute." The young wags then 
went back into the city to see the effect; and sure enough, by the time they 
got up main street to the vicinity of Laurel street, there were horsemen 
riding rapidly to and fro between the college grounds and different parts 
of the city. The jokers didn't dare to ask any questions for fear of some 
suspicion arising, which would have been sure death. But in the morn- 
ing the state troops were gone. Several histories speak of this sudden 
and rapid retreat from Lexington, but no one has before given the secret 
of its mysterious suddenness. Mr. Pirner claims that it was the first 
* graoevine dispatch " sent during the war, and he wants Lexington to 
have the historic credit of it. 

About the 25th of June the troops left Lexington for the south, the most 
of the Lafayette county men being in Graves' regiment or Bledsoe's bat- 
talion. Gov. Jackson, Gen. Rains, and Gen. Parsons commanded. The 
ladies and citizens generally turned out to bid them adieu, to wave them 
fond farewells, and to pray for their success and safe return. The force 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 335 

was hardly an army, since it lacked organization, discipline, and experi- 
ence, but there was material in it for an Old Guard or a Light Brigade 
as was afterwards demonstrated. 

On the 5th of July the right at Carthage come off between this force 
and Sigel's command. Bledsoe's battery did important service here. 
Graves' regiment was engaged but not actively. The state army then 
inarched to Cowskin prairie, McDonald county, and spent some time in 
drilling and preparing for active and vigorous service. On the 10th of 
August the battle of Wilson's Creek was fought, and here again the 
Lafayette county men distinguished themselves. Graves' regiment was 
commanded in this engagement by Benj. Elliott, who was given his posi- 
tion on the field by Gen. McCulloch. At the time of his promotion Elli- 
ott was serving as a private in the regiment, but had been a captain at 
Camp Holloway. 

THE FIRST FEDERAL TROOPS. 

While the Secessionists of Lafayette county had been active in prepar- 
ing for war, the Union men were not idle. Some of the latter there were 
who had determined if war should come, to take a part, and that upon 
the side of the Union. Early in the season a number had left the county 
and made their way to Kansas City or the State of Kansas, where they 
joined the companies of Union militia or other organizations destined for 
service under the stars and stripes; and the German citizens of Freedom 
township, under the leadership of Capt. Becker, were organized and waiting 
for arms and an order and opportunity to strike. The Germans of 
Lafayette, like all of their fellow-countiymen in the State, were almost 
unanimously loyal to the Federal government. Other Union citizens of 
the county were only watching and waiting for the advent of the Federal 
troops in the county to themselves enlist on the side of Uncle Sam. 

FIRST LAFAYETTE PRISONER OF WAR. 

After the Boonville fight, Gen. Lyon sent a regiment of Unionists up 

the river on the steamboat While Cloud, which landed at Lexington July 

9th, a few days after Price's troops had left. The arrival of these, the 

first Federal troops, created no little commotion in Lexington. As they 

x disembarked and marched up from the wharf the angry citizens of seces- 

I sion proclivities called to them and shouted at them in no very complimen- 

L tary terms. As they passed the residence of Wm. G. McCausland they 

noticed a small secession flag displayed in the yard and demanded that 

r it be taken down. Mrs. McCausland told them if they wanted it 

taken down they must do it themselves — she wouldn't do it.* Mean- 

- while, Mr. McCausland looking up the street from his store, saw the 

* Mrs. McCausland is one of the most refined, intelligent, and liberally educated ladies 
of LexiLgton, and would have ministered to a sick or wounded federal as" quickly as to a 
; confederate. 



336 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY*. 

soldiers halted in front of his house; he grasped an old shot-gun 
and ran to drive the invaders from his premises, but was promptly- 
arrested, being the first prisoner taken in Lafayette county by federal 
troops. He was held about two weeks and then released on parole. 
Other citizens who were prominent avowed secessionists were also 
arrested, James Ball, James Lightner, John McFadden, Alfred Jones, and 
Isaac McGirk being among the number. This regiment was known as 
the Fifth regiment United States reserved corps, was only enlisted for 
three months, and was commanded by Col. Chas. G. Stifel (pronounced 
sleefel). It was composed entirely of Germans from St. Louis. 

Col. Stifel marched his regiment almost immediately to the Masonic 
college, where he went into camp and threw up intrenchments. The 
prisoners taken were confined and guarded on the White Cloud. One of 
them, James Lightner, was shot dead by his guard, one Henry Hoefel, of 
Company A, while trying to effect his escape. The soldier alleged that 
Mr. Lightner attacked him with a drawn chair. The other prisoners 
were either released on parole or taken to St. Louis upon the return of 
the regiment. 

While the headquarters of Col. Stifel's regiment were at Lexington, 
detachments were sent out through the country, one of which went 
up the river to destroy all boats, so as to prevent the crossing of re-en- 
forcements to Gen. Price. At Blue Mills landing this detachment was 
fired upon and one man killed and twelve wounded. About 200 packages 
of the powder before mentioned were found by another detachment. A 
company of re-enforcements was brought down from the vicinity of Fort 
Leavenworth and left at Lexington. Two other Union companies were 
also organized and armed and placed in the newly constructed fort. One 
of these was Becker's company, before mentioned, and the other a com- 
pany raised at Lexington, commanded first by Gustave Pirner and after- 
wards by Henry- Emde. Each of these companies numbered about fifty 
men. The first was composed, as before stated, of Germans from Freedom 
township, with a few members from Pettis county, some of whom had 
been at Cole Camp, Benton county. The other company was chiefly 
composed of members of the German Turner organization of Lexington. 
About one year previously this organization had been presented with a fine 
United States flag by the citizens of Lexington. In the presentation 
speech they were adjured to '■'■always be found faithful in defending their 
banner from assaults from any quarter.'''' Now, they prepared to obey 
that injunction. Another company was also organized at Lexington by 
Captain Fred Neet. It was made up mostly of men from Lafayette 
county. There was also a company of Union men commanded by Capt. 
Ridgell, of Ray county. This company numbered about fifty men from 
Ray, Carroll, and Lafayette counties. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 337 

On July 16th, the time of Stifel's regiment having expired, it left for St. 
Louis, where it was mustered out of the service. On the way down the 
river it was fired on from the Saline county shore and some of the men 
killed and wounded. In Cooper county the boat landed, and three of a 
firing party from the shore were killed by a detachment sent off the boat. 
Stifel's regiment was the one that fired on the citizens of St. Louis at the 
time of the capture of Camp Jackson. 

Upon the departure of Col. Stifel, the command of the post at Lexing- 
ton fell upon Capt. F. VV. Becker, of the Freedom township company. 
As he had three companies under him, he assumed the title of major. 
" Major " Becker had formerly been a stage driver from Georgetown to 
Warrensburg, and along that route. He had very little education, but 
affected a great deal of wisdom, and, dressed in a little brief authority, 
was given to many fantastic tricks. He wore a pair of huge epaulets 
and a stunning uniform; kept himself secluded from the common herd; 
was surrounded by a number of guards, and was as difficult of access as 
a czar. Yet withal he was a fair soldier. He was quite well versed in 
military tactics, and drilled his men with considerable skill. 

Becker remained in command at the college until about the 25th of 
August, when Lieut. Col. White, formerly of Stifel's regiment, assumed 
command, the force then consisting of Becker's, Emde's, RidgelPs, Neet's 
and Graham's companies, with which and other companies the formation 
of a regiment was then under way, of which White was to be colonel, 
Graham lieutenant-colonel, and Becker major. White had, in addition to 
his infantry force, which had been partly armed by Stifel, four pieces of 
artillery, two six-pound iron guns, and two brass cohorn mortars or how- 
itzers. Neither of these pieces was very effective. Graham's company 
was the one that had gone from Leavenworth. It was composed of men 
who had gone from and near Rock Island, Illinois, a great many of whom 
were professional men. 

In the latter part of August there came two battalions of the First Illi- 
nois cavalry, abont 500 men, commanded by Col. T. A. Marshall. They 
were from St. Louis, and came via Sedalia. Although a fine body of 
men, the members of this command were poorly armed, having nothing 
but old-fashioned single-barrelled dragoon pistols, and sabers. Col. Mar- 
shall at once assumed command. About the 8th of September came Col. 
James A. Mulligan with the 23d Illinois infantry, a regiment composed 
almost entirely of Irishmen and called the " Irish brigade." This regi- 
ment had also marched across from Sedalia. Being the senior officer, Col. 
Mulligan relieved Col. Marshall of the command of the post. He had 
orders from Gen. Fremont to fortify and hold the place, and information 
that he would shortly be reinforced. He at once began throwing up addi- 
tional entrenchments and enlarging those already built. 



338 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

In a day or two there came to Col. Mulligan, by steamer from Kansas 
City, the 13th Missouri infantry, under Col. Everett Peabody, of St. 
Joseph, and Maj. R. T. Van Horn's battalion of United States reserve 
corps, of Kansas City. These troops were armed with muskets and bay- 
onets. Peabody's regiment was composed of northwest Missourians, with 
a few from southern Iowa and eastern Kansas. With this command there 
came two six-pound brass cannon, in charge of Capt. Adams. The guns 
were poorly supplied with ammunition. 

LEXINGTON FAIR GROUNDS ENCAMPMENT. 

In the latter part of August, Col. Henry L. Routt, with a body of state 
troops, intended for service against the federal authority rendezvoused at 
the fair grounds at Lexington. His forces numbered at first about 800 
men, but were increased by recruits who came in by squads, companies, 
and singly, from day to day, until there were about 1,200 probably in all. 
Col. Routt was from Ray county and had seen service in the Mexican 
war. His men were from Lafayette, Jackson, Ray, Clay, and other coun- 
ties north of the river. 

The situation at Lexington was now somewhat singular. In the fair 
grounds were Col. Routt's troops, secessionists, and only a mile or so 
away were their deadly enemies, the federals, and yet both camps got 
along without a general engagement for some days. Pickets were con- 
stantly kept out and there was an occasional interchange of shots, but no 
serious damage done. Each side was afraid of the other. Routt had 
more men than Becker and the federals, but the latter were the better 
armed and in fortifications. One feared to attack, the other dare not. 
At last Col. Routt thought to gain his point by a ruse de guerre, hardly 
fair, and only allowable in war times. 

A number of pronounced and prominent unconditional union men had 
been made prisoners by the state troops. Among them were Ex-Gov- 
ernor Austin A King, of Ray county, Missouri's chief magistrate from 
1849 to 1853; Hon. John F. Ryland, ol Lafayette county, a citizen of Mis- 
souri since 1819, judge of this circuit eighteen years, then judge of the 
state supreme court for eight years; his son, John E. Ryland, is now 
criminal judge for this district; Wm. Fields, and Mr. Casper. Routt 
made a demand for the surrender of the troops on the college hill, which 
was refused. He thereupon prepared a paper in which it was stated that 
the force of the state troops in the fair grounds was a very large one, well 
armed, and supplied with artillery; that large re-enforcements, with more 
artillery were on the way from north of the river; that the college hill was 
completely invested, and that the best thing Becker could do was to sur- 
render. This paper was addressed to the commander of the federal 
forces, and was presented to the union prisoners for. their signatures. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 339 

The prisoners, headed by Judge Roland, positively refused to sign a paper 
containing so many and such flagrantly false statements, and so Routt's 
scheme failed. 

Meanwhile the Pirner brothers, both of whom had seen military ser- 
vice in the old country, had provided three shells with fuses and wanted to 
see whether they would "go" or not. So the next evening they ran one 
of the old mortars out to the place where Hon. H. C. Wallace now 
resides, and fired their three homemade shells toward the fair ground, 
and the first one exploded right over the grounds. This created a perfect 
panic among the raw troops there, and they clambered over the fences in 
hot haste, every man for himself, leaving horses, arms, equipments, pris- 
oners, to take care of themselves. Judge Ryland afterward told that he 
was as badly scared as the rest of them, for he was in the same danger, 
but he thought it as safe to stay as to run. When the Pirner's had fired 
their three shells they withrew, and knew nothing of the effect in the fair 
ground until a negro told them about it the next day. Nobody had been 
hurt, however. 

In a day or two scouts reported the advance of a large force of federal 
cavalry from Sedalia, and as another federal force was known to be in 
Johnson county, threatening Lexington, the position of Col. Routt and his 
men was a perilous one," and he retreated, forming a^ junction with the 
advancing army of Gen. Price at Index. The union citizen prisoners were 
taken along. 

THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 

In the early part of the month of September, 1861, the military situa- 
tion in Missouri was substantially as follows: The federal troops held the 
Missouri river by a cordon of military posts stretching from St. Louis to 
St. Joseph. Communication between these posts was easy and generally 
kept up. The object of this line was to prevent the crossing of the river 
\>y the secessionists of North Missouri, who, to the number of 5,000 or 
6,000, were armed, organized and desirous of joining the army of Gen. 
Price in southwest Missouri. A portion of these men were of Gen 
Thomas A. Harris' 2d division of northeast Missourians, including Mar- 
tin E. Green's brigade, which had been defeated in an engagement at 
Athens, on the northeast boundary line of the state on the fifth of August. 
Harris had probably 3,000 men. Another force, belonging of right to 
the 4th division, was in northwest Missouri. All crossing of the river by 
the secessionists had to be done covertly, stealthily and in small squads. 
Only two or three instances are known where more than one hundred 
crossed at one time. 

To break this blockade and to release the semi-imprisoned north Mis- 
sourians became the object of Gen. Price, who for some time had been 



340 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

resting upon the laurels he had won at Wilson's Creek, in the camps in and 
about Springfield. From reports he knew which one of the four federal posts, 
Jefferson City, Boonville, Lexington and Kansas City, was the easiest and 
most important one to take, and he chose Lexington, knowing the ground 
and the almost certainty of victory, and the great moral effect upon the 
Missourians, which a victory at Lexington would have, following upon 
their important success at Wilson's Creek. 

In the last days of August, therefore, Gen. Price, with about 8,000 men 
and seven pieces of artillery, took up the line of march for Lexington. 
He, however, continued to receive reinforcements as he advanced. On 
the 2d of September he was at Nevada, where Col. Bevier reached him 
with 300 men from north Missouri.* On September 7th the army encoun- 
tered Lane and Montgomery's Kansas troops at Dry wood creek, Vernon 
county, and after a brief skirmish brushed them out of the way with but 
insignificant loss. Capt. Bledsoe was here severely wounded by a bullet 
in the groin, and did not rejoin his battery for some weeks. 

At Index, in Cass county, the advancing column was met by Routt's 
and Vard Cockrell's forces from Lexington. Here the Lafayette county 
regiment underwent re-organization. Col. Benjamin Elliott was chosen 
colonel; Counselman, lieutenant-colonel, and Samuel Taylor, maior. This 
organization lasted until the six months' term of service of the regiment 
had expired. Here also were met other Missourians " in arms and eager 
for the fray." 

FEDERAL SEIZURE OF THE LEXINGTON BANK. 

Gov. Jackson had appropriated the school fund of the state to the arm- 
ing and equipment of the state troops, and it had been proposed to make 
forced loans from certain banks of the state for the same purpose. To 
checkmate this action of the governor, as he alleged, Gen. Fremont, the 
federal commander, in Missouri, ordered the funds of certain banks of the 
state to be sent to St. Louis not for the use of the federal authorities, as 
he claimed, but to prevent their being employed to aid the forces of 
Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price. In obedience to this order of Gen. Fre- 
mont, therefore, Col. Marshall directed his Lieut. Col. H. M. Day, to wait 
upon the officers of the branch of the state bank at Lexington, and secure 
all the funds of that institution, giving a receipt therefor, and bring them 
to the fortifications at the college. This was done. Col. Day waited 
upon the bank officers and presented the following order: 

Headquarters at Lexington, Mo., Sept. 7, 1861. 

To Col. Day: — You will proceed, without delay, with one company, 
to take possession of the money in the bank at this place and give vour 
receipt for it, as also a copy of this order. 

T. A. Marshall, 
To Lieut-Col. H. M. Dav. Col. Commanding at Lexington. 

*Bevier's " Missouri Brigades," page 302. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 341 

Mr. Morrison, then one of the directors of the bank, and now of the 
Morrison- Wentworth bank, states that he had buried the funds of the 
bank, in anticipation that they would be taken, but the federal officers had 
been informed of their whereabouts and so informed him. They were 
therefore soon surrendered. The cashier, Mr. C. R. Morehead, was 
afterward censured and dismissed from the service of the bank for being 
the informant, but he declared his innocence. 

The funds taken by Col. Marshall amounted to $960,159.60, of which 
$165,659.60 was in gold. Col. Day gave the following receipt: 

Received at Lexington, Missouri, 7th September, 1861, of the Farm- 
ers' Bank of Missouri at Lexington, seven boxes of American gold coin, 
marked and said to contain each $20,000, and numbered from 1 to 7 
inclusive. Also, one box of foreign and California coin, marked and said 
to contain $10,659.60; also, three bags said to contain $5,000 each, 
amounting in all by the above estimate to $165,659.60; also, seven cases 
of bank note circulation, being the circulation of the Farmers' Bank of 
Missouri at Lexington, numbered and said to contain as follows and 
thus marked: " No. 1, $50,000; No. 2, $50,000; No. 3, $50,000; No. 4, 
$74,000; No. 5, $100,000; No. 6, $200,000; No. 7, $270,500." Total 
amount of bank notes circulation being, according to the above estimate' 
$794,500. H. M. Day, 

Lieut. Col. 1st Cav. Regt. of 111. Vols., U. S. A. 

By appointment of the bank, Messrs. S. G. Wentworth and C. R. 
Morehead started with the money for St. Louis via Warrensburg, under 
convoy of Marshall's cavalry. When about 20 miles out from Lexington 
the expedition confronted the advance of Price's army and hurriedly 
turned about and returned to the entrenchment at Lexington. The money 
was then delivered to Col. Mulligan and buried under his tent by Lt.-Col. 
Quirk, Major Moore, and Captains Gleason and Moriarty, the first three 
named from Chicago, Capt. Moriarty from La Salle, Illinois, and all of 
Col. Mulligan's 23d Illinois Infantry. (See article headed " The Lexing- 
ton Bank's War Money.") 

Against the seizure of their money the president, cashier, and members 
of the board of directors present, protested, alleging that they had " full 
faith that we are fully able to protect and manage the same." The pro- 
test was disregarded, however, but the officers were assured that they 
would eventually get their money, since it was only being removed to 
prevent its falling into the hands of the " rebels " under Jackson and 
Price. No objection was made to Messrs. Wentworth and Morehead 
accompanying the treasure, to see that it was safely deposited in St. 
Louis. 

CONFEDERATES MARCH ON LEXINGTON. 

On the 10th of September the advance of Gen. Price's army reached 
Warrensburg, and the next morning the whole army came up and rested 



342 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

there that day. The soldiers were tired and hungry and the good people 
of Warrensburg generously fed them and cared for them to the best of 
their ability. The Federals in Warrensburg had abandoned the place at 
midnight before Price reached the town, and retreated to Lexington, 
burning the bridges behind them. From Warrensburg to Lexington the 
distance is about 34 miles, and early on the 12th Gen. Price started for 
the latter place, Col. Elliott's Lafayette county regiment having the 
advance. The troops marched hard, fast, and far, as may be concluded 
from the distance accomplished in the given time; but man)' of the men 
were in sight of their homes, and this fact annihilated distance and lessened 
toil and fatigue. 

At a covered bridge across the Garrison fork of Tabo creek, five miles 
from Lexington, a force of the Federals was encountered. This force 
consisted of four companies of home guards, a portion of Peabody's regi- 
ment, and two companies of Illinois cavalry, and had fallen back from 
Warrensburg on the approach of Price's forces. The Federals were 
driven back and another skirmish ensued at another bridge nearer town. 
One of these bridges was set on fire. At last the Federals were forced 
back into their intrenchments and Prece's forces occupied the southern 
and eastern part of Lexington. The artillery was brought up and the 
college hill vigorously cannonaded for a few minutes. Bledsoe's battery 
took up a position near the residence of Judge Tutt, and Guibor's guns 
were stationed in different portions of the town in range of the college. A 
portion of Rains' division also got within range of the Federals and 
skirmished with them. Darkness closed the scene, and both parties 
rested for the time and prepared for future and greater action. A strong 
picket force was kept up by each side. The loss of the Federals in killed 
during the skirmishes of the evening is given by the Chicago PosCs cor- 
respondent, who was in the fight, as 8 killed and 15 wounded. Loss of 
the State troops unknown, but estimated at 25 killed and wounded. The 
forces in the skirmishes on the Federal side were commanded by Major 
Van Horn.* The forces of Gen. Price were a portion of the Lafayette 
county regiment and other troops of Rains' division. 

After nightfall councils of war were held in the camps of both armies. 
Mulligan sent for his officers and a consultation was had in the college 
building. There were present Cols. Mulligan, Marshall, "*White, Pea- 
body, fGrover, and fDay, Majors Van Horn and Becker, and Captains 
Neet, Graham, and Duncan, the latter from Johnson county and who had 
followed Peabody from Warrensburg. The subordinate officers all 
expressed it as their opinion that the best thing to do under the circum- 

*Col. [Maj ] Van Horn has been for many years editor-in-chief of the Kansas City 
Journal; and was the member from that district in the 39th 40th, 41st, and 47th Congress, 
f White, Grover, and Day were lieutenant colonels. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 343 

stances was to evacuate the works and the place. White wished to cross 
the river on the two steamboats lying under the works; Peabody and 
Marshall wished to go to Sedalia, Peabody promising to go with his 
regiment in the advance and clear the way. When every other officer 
had given his views, Mulligan spoke: "Gentlemen," said he, " I have 
heard what you have to say, but, begad, we'll fight ''em! That's what we 
enlisted for, and that's what we'll do." 

Preparations were instantly begun in accordance with the directions of 
the plucky commander. The whole force, in details of 500 men was put 
at work on the intrenchments and worked night and day until they were 
completed. Mulligan expected re-enforcements every da) 7 . Gen. Lane, 
on the frontier of Kansas, had 2,000 men, and these with a part of Pope's 
command under Gen. Sturgis, and a large portion of Jeff. C. Davis' at 
Jefferson City, were disposable for the relief of Lexington, toward which 
point they were directed and expected to move as rapidly as possible. On 
the 13th two regiments were ordered from Jefferson City to Lexington, 
and word of this reached Mulligan. He accordingly enlarged his works 
to accommodate the expected re-enforcements. He refused to have any 
wells or cisterns dug at first, saying that the college cisterns would afford 
sufficient water for the men, and the Missouri river, which his works 
commanded, would furnish enough for Marshall's cavalry horses. * 
Major Moore and Captain McNulty, civil engineers, of Mulligan's regi- 
ment laid out the works. 

The same night a conference was held between Gen. Price, Gov. Jack- 
son, and their subordinate commands. One or two of the officers voted 
for an immediate assault, but the majority, including Gen. Price, decided 
that there should be no useless shedding of blood; that the federals need 
only be surrounded and watched; that their capture was already assured, 
being now a mere question of time; that Harris' and Green's men from 
north of the river, as well as Boyd's and Patton's, were on the way and 
ought to be waited for, and that under no circumstances, except for defense 
or to prevent the escape of the federals, ought offensive or vigorous ope- 
rations to be conducted. " We've got 'em, dead sure," said " Old Pap" 
to his officers. " All we have to do is to watch 'em." 

The next morning a smart skirmish was had in the vicinity of the fort. 
The state troops were repulsed. Only about 300 were engaged on either 
side. This fighting was done on the side of the state troops by the Lafay- 
ette regiment and volunteers from elsewhere. Conspicuous among the 
latter for gallantry, and reckless in his exposure of himself, was Col. John 

*Maj . Neet, of Lexington, says a well was afterwards dug ninety-seven feet deep, one 
or two hundred feet north of the college building, without finding water, and the hole was 
filled with dead horses, then covered with dirt again. In Col. Mulligan's speech at Detroit, 
Mich., Nov. 29th, he said: "The night of the 19th two wells were ordered to be dug.* We 
took a ravine, and expected to reach water in about thirty hours." 



344 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

W. Reid, formerly of Lexington, then of Jackson county, and a member 
of the federal congress. At the close of the fight, the federals sent a detail 
which burned the residence of Thos. B. Wallace, Esq., a union man. The 
house had been occupied by some sharp-shooters, who were picking off 
the federals constantly. After this the state troops retired to the fair 
grounds and the federals to their works, to improve which they instantly 
began. 

From this on for five days the situation at Lexington was a singular 
one. Both the federal and state forces were occupants of the town at the 
same time. Price's army was encamped at the fair grounds, where Routt 
had been; Mulligan and his men were on college hill, where Becker had 
been. Detachments from each side would go into the town, meet and 
exchange shots and then retire. Col. Elliott and the Lafayette county 
regiment were active in service. On one occasion the colonel himself, at 
long range, shot a federal soldier. 

From the 13th to the 18th of September there was constant preparation 
going on and daily rencontres. Gen. Price was waiting for his reinforce- 
ments from the north side of the river and also for the arrival of all of his 
ammunition wagons and munitions of war from Springfield, and closing 
around the federals. In the meanwhile Mulligan was fortifying and pre- 
paring to receive his visitors rather warmly when they should come. * 
In addition to his fortifications he constructed pits to throw into confusion 
the enemy's forces if they should attempt to charge, and also constructed 
mines, stripping the college building and the boarding house of their 
water pipes in which to lay his fuses, having none of the regular sorts 
provided. And Mulligan, too, was confidently expecting re-enforcements. 
Day after day his officers looked anxiously across the river into the wide 
bottom lands opposite, in hope to see Sturges' column approaching to 
their relief, or listened for sounds of combat from the southeast, announc- 
ing the approach of Jeff. C. Davis, from that direction. At last a small 
column was observed with a good field-glass some four or five miles across 
the river. This was Gen. Sturgis, with eleven hundred men of the 27th 
and 39th Ohio volunteers, referred to in Gen. Pope's dispatch to Fremont. 
But Gen. Parsons lay between him and the river with 3,000 confederate 
troops, and Sturgis therefore retreated to Richmond. See article headed 
" Gen. Sturgis' March for Lexington." 

Re-inforcements had been ordered from Lexington by Gen. Fremont 
from Gen. Pope. The latter had telegraphed Fremont from Palmyra on 
the 16th: 

The troops I sent to Lexington will be there the day after to-morrow 

*Lieut. McNulty, an old foundry man, and an officer in Col. Marshall's cavalry regiment 
took possession of Morrison's foundry and cast cannon balls until Price got possession of 
the city. He succeeded in making 150 six pound balls before being driven into the fort. 



HISTORY." OF LAYFAETTE COUNTY. 345 

i 

(the 18th), and consist of two full regiments of infantry, four pieces of 
artillery, and 150 irregular horse. These, with the two Ohio regiments 
which will reach there on Thursday, will make a re-enforcement of nearly 
4,000 men and four pieces of artillery. 

But no part of these re-enforcements ever reached Mulligan, nor did 
any come from any quarter. 

On the morning of the 13th of September, the reports of the company 
commanders of Mulligan's troops showed that there were present for duty 
2,780 officers and men, with 24 sick and wounded in the hospital. The 
strength of Gen. Price's forces can only be approximated. Rations were 
issued to twenty thousand men, as reported by Col. Ben. Elliott to the 
writer hereof. The commissary general of the Missouri army, then (and 
now) in Lexington, refuses to furnish any information. No sooner, how- 
ever, did the news get abroad that the " Yankees were surrounded " at 
Lexington, and the rfews traveled fast, than recruits flocked in from every 
quarter, and it is probable that 23,000 men took a part more or less con- 
spicuous in the conflict on the side of the state. 

THE BLUE MILLS RENCONTRE. 

On the 17th a brilliant little victory was won at Blue Mills landing, on 
the Clay county side of the river, by the forces of Colonels Boyd and Pat- 
ton, principally from northwest Missouri and on their way to join Gen. 
Price. The state guard troops who were crossing at Blue Mills consisted 
of 4,400 men. Gen. D. R. Atchison's report to Gen. Price, says they 
were, one regiment of infantry under Col. Saunders, and one under Col. 
Jeff. Patton ; one regiment of cavalry under Col. Wilfley, and one battalion 
under Col. Childs; a battalion of infantry and artillery under Col. Boyd, 
embracing Capt. Kelly's battery of four guns; and a small force under 
Col. Cundiff. 

Gen. Pope, under orders from Fremont, had telegraphed Lieut. Col. 
Scott, at Cameron, on the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad in Clinton county, 
and to Col. Giles F. Smith, at St. Joseph, to march to Liberty, in Clay 
county, and there join their forces and intercept the rebel troops that had 
left St. Joseph, September 12th, to join Price at Lexington. A later order 
was sent to Col. Smith, that if they failed to intercept the rebel troops, 
then to march onto Lexington; but Col. Smith had already gone when this 
order came, and it never reached him. Lieut. Col. Scott left Cameron 
with 570 men and one cannon, the 3d Iowa regiment and a few home 
guards and German artillerists composing the force. Col. Smith's forces 
consisted of his own regiment, the 16th Illinois, two companies of the 39th 
Ohio, and four pieces of artillery. (These were the reinforcements which 
Gen. Pope assured Fremont would reach Lexington September 18th, 
consisting of "two full regiments of infantry, four pieces of artillery, and 
150 irregular horse.") The 3d Iowa, Lieut. Col. Scott's command 



346 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

reached Liberty, and not finding the Illinois men there, and learning that 
the " rebels " were nearly at the river, where they were prepared to cross, 
set out after them, Gen. D. R. Atchison had been sent by Gen. Price to 
hurry forward the reinforcements. He arrived at the landing, and learn- 
ing that the federals were following Boyd's and Patton's men, he ordered 
an ambush to be laid, into which the Iowans rushed and were promptly 
and thoroughly defeated, losing forty or fifty men, while the Missourians 
lost not more than a dozen. Boyd's and Pattern's men (among whom it is 
said were a battalion of Harris' division) crossed the river and all arrived 
at Lexington the next day. Capt. Kelly's battery of four guns was with 
the command. 

On the same dav of the Blue Mills fight, Gen. Price had completed the 
investment of the federal fortifications except the side next the river. 
Rains' division occupied the ground east and northeast of the works, the 
line stretching as far south as Main street. Parsons' division lay the full 
length of Main street, [marked North street on city map]. Slack's 4th 
division joined the left of Parsons' and extended to the river; a portion of 
this division was in reserve. The next day Harris' division occupied the 
line along the river front to a junction with Rains' division. Bledsoe's 
battery, commanded at first by Emmett McDonald, of St. Louis, and on 
the last day by Bledsoe himself, was east and northeast of the fort.* 
Guibor's battery was at work from different positions in the town, usually 
at street crossings. Congreve Jackson's force, of Clark's division, and 
Gen. Steen's division were considered reserves, but were actively engaged 
at times. Gen. McBride's division also supported and acted with Harris'. 
Kelley's battery was on the left of the line, along the river, and on the last 
day was in position northeast of the Anderson house. Kneisley's battery 
accompanied Harris' division in its different movements. 

A demand was made upon Mulligan for surrender, but he returned the 
reply: " If you want us, you must take us." Thereupon operations be- 
gan in earnest. A heavy and almost continuous fire was opened on 
Mulligan's position, from the artillery and from every description of 
smaller firearms. Old long-barreled squirrel and hunting rifles were em- 
ployed by the newly recruited state-rights men who did good execution 
with them as sharpshooters. They crawled up the gullies and ravines to 
within a few dozen yards of the Federal intrenchments and, following the 
. fashion at Don ny brook fair, wherever they saw a head they hit it — if it 
were the head of a Federal. Old shot-guns were also employed by some; 
others used revolvers when they could, and still others muskets. Parsons' 
division lay along the sidewalks on Main street. The houses thereon had 

*Bledsoe's battery was planted at west front of Judge Tint's residence, part of the time; 
and Mrs. Tutt informs us that three fruit trees in their yard were shot off by the federal 
cannon; one ball smashed through her kitchen and into the main house; and one man 
was killed at her north doorway. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 347 

been for the most part vacated by the residents. The soldiers ascended 
to the upper stories and fired from the windows, often sitting down in easy- 
chairs in the intervals between firing, and taking things ^asy and luxuri- 
ously. Not always, however, did these men have such comfortable rifle- 
pits as they had at Lexington. 

And now the people came in from all parts of this portion of the State. 
Old men and boys gathered from the surrounding counties with arms in 
their hands and crept up and took a pop or two at the " Yankees " in the 
breastworks. Indeed, men of all ages, citizens, not soldiers, did the same. 
Many men brought their wives with them to see the "sport " of a battle! 
Some of the visitors rode in carriages, and the occasion seemed to be re- 
garded as a sort of a pic-nic, or holiday affair. 

On the 18th, about noon, Col. Rives moved down the river and cap- 
tured the steamboat and the ferry-boat. He had assistance from Mc- 
Brides', Slack's and Stein's divisions. Major Becker, who commanded 
two companies of Federals that were in a lunette breastwork guarding the 
boats, beat a hasty retreat to the main fortifications, and Harris' men were 
soon half way up the bluff and popping away at the now completely 
cooped up Federals. The capture of the boats and the river front was an 
important one and greeted with enthusiastic cheers by men of all divisions 
of the State troops. 

THE HOSPITAL EPISODE. 

The Federals had occupied as a hospital the then magnificent residence 
of Oliver Anderson, Esq., a two-and-a-half story brick building, down the 
slope about twenty rods west from the outer line of their intrenchments [See 
diagram,] and several hundred rods from the " Masonic College. " On 
top of this building there was a yellow flag displayed, marking it as a hos- 
pital, and in it were 24 sick and 96 wounded, according to Mulligan's re- 
port. The hospital was in charge of Dr. Cooley (now of Kansas City) as 
Surgeon and Rev. Father Butler, a Catholic priest, who was the Chap- 
lain of Mulligan's regiment. On Wednesday, September 18th, this hos- 
pital building was captured by the State troops, the reasons for which are 
given by Brigadier General Thomas A. Harris in his official report made 
to Gen. Price immediately after the close of the siege. At the time of the 
Lexington battle there was no newspaper being published in the city; the 
Lexington Express had been suspended, but its printing material was in 
the custody of Ethan Allen, Esq., now business manager of the Lexing- 
ton Intelligencer printing establishment. And immediately after the bat- 
tle Mr. Allen printed two sheets or circulars, headed " Official Bulletin — 
Extra, " containing the official reports Generals Price, Parsons, McBride, 
Harris, Rains, Stein; Colonels Rives, Jackson, Hughes; Lieut. Col. Boyd 
and Major Winston. And from this document we copy what Gen. Harris, 
in his report to Gen. Price, says about the hospital matter, as follows: 



348 history of lafayette county. 

gen. Harris' official report. 

At 11:15 o'clock I received the order from yourself in person to move 
my command along the bank of the river to the support of General 
McBride's command, and Gen. Slack's division under command of Col. 
Rives. At the same time you gave me instructions to capture the brick house, 
outside the enemy's tines of defense, known as the Anderson house, or hospital, 
provided, that if upon my arrival there I was of opinion that I could carry 
it without too great a loss. * *. Upon my reaching the point known 
as the hospital, I dismounted and ascended the hill on foot. On my arri- 
val I found Col. Rives' command supported by a portion of Lt. Col. 
Hull's and Major Milton's (cavalry) command of my division. From a 
personal inspection of the position occupied by the hospital, I became sat- 
isfied that it was invaluable to me as a point of annoyance and masque for 
approach to the enemy. [See diagram.] I at the same time received your 
communication as to the result of your reconnoisance through your glass. 
/, therefore, immediately ordered an assault upon the position, in which I 
was promptly and gallantly seconded by Col. Rives and his command, 
together with Lt. Col. Hull and Major Milton, and their commands of 
my own divison. The hospital was promptly carried and occupied by 
our troops; but during the evening the enemy retook it and were after- 
ward driven out again by our men with some loss. [The state troops 
first captured the hospital about noon, or between 12 and 1 o'clock. About 
2 or 3 o'clock it was retaken by Mulligan's men ; and about 4 or 5 o'clock 
was charged upon and captured a second time by the state troops, and 
thereafter held by them.] 

Thus it will be seen that Gen. Price and Gen. Harris planned and 
ordered the capture of the Anderson house or hospital, because as Gen. 
Harris says, "it was invaluable to me as a point of annoyance and masque 
for approach of the enemy," a fact which will be seen at a glance by con- 
sulting the diagram of the position printed on page 350. [The map of the 
battle of Lexington, given in Greeley's American Conflict, Vol. I, p. 586, 
is so ridiculously inaccurate that it is a perfect burlesque.] 

This hospital matter has been much animadvered upon by partisan 
writers on both sides. Col. Mulligan assumed that the confederates were 
guilty of a breach of civilized warfare in firing on a hospital; and, conse- 
quently when his men retook the building, having this belief firmly fixed 
in their minds, they gave no quarter, but killed every armed man caught 
in the building. Some of the minor confederate officers seemed to labor 
under the same impression, and claimed as an excuse or justification for 
the capture, that the federals had fired upon them from inside the build- 
ing ; but this was positively denied at the time by the surgeon, Dr. Cooley, 
and the priest, Father Butler, who were in the hospital, and by Major 
Meet, Mr. H. Booth man, and others, still living in Lexington, who were 
at the time in that part of the entrenchment nearest the hospital. But, 
aside from this, the official report of Gen. Harris, made at the time, shows 
that there was no such reason for the capture ; but that it was deliberately 
planned and ordered as a rightful military movement. The federals had 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 349 

no militant right to expect that a strategic position so important to their 
opponents as the Anderson house and premises manifestly was, would or 
should be left in their quiet possession merely because they had seen fit to 
use some part of it for hospital purposes. Nevertheless, that first false 
scent has been followed and barked after for twenty years — the federals 
erroneously claiming an unjustifiable attack on the hospital, and the con- 
federates erroneously claiming that they were first fired on by federals 
from inside the building, and that for that reason the attack was made. 

Here is what Pollard's southern history, page, 165, sa} r s about it: 

As a detachment of the Missouri troops, under command of Col. Rives, 
. were passing down the bank of the river to capture a steamboat lying 
under the enemy's guns, a fire was opened upon him from a building 
known as Anderson's house, standing on the summit of the bluff, and des- 
ignated as a hospital by the white flag over it. There were in the build- 
ing at the time, twenty-four, sick ; but it contained also a large body of 
armed soldiers. Indignant at the perfidy which directed this attack, sev- 
eral companies from Gen. Harris, and the fourth division, rushed up the 
bank, leaped over every barrier and speedily overpowered the garrison. 

Compare this with Gen. Harris' report, and see how widely they differ. 
Gen. Harris was the man who planned and ordered the movement, and 
he certainly ought to know best about it. 

The truth of history in this matter, without any partisan coloring, is 
simply this: When the first capture of the hospital occurred, which was 
between 12 and 1 o'clock, the federals did not have an armed man in the 
building; and on the other hand, it was not at all necessary to say they did, 
in order to justify Gen. Harris' tactics. He did not assault the hospital, 
but its capture was a necessary incident of any success he might have in 
assaulting that part of the federal line. There were confederate sharpshoot- 
ers lying under the edge of the banks of a dug-down carriage-way within 
eighty feet of the hospital building (see diagram, at e); and as soon as it 
became known that a charge was going to be made on the hospital front of 
the federal works, and even before the assaulting column got in motion, 
some of these sharpshooters, probably not belonging to any command, had 
ran across that eighty feet space and up into the building, and commenced 
firing down on the federals from the upper windows. Three eye witnesses 
of this movement have informed us that it was not over thirty seconds 
from the moment they started on the run till they were in the building and 
firing from the windows.* It was this firing which was seen by some of 
the confederate troops as they rushed forward in the regular assaulting 
column; but not knowing anything about that bit of independent and suc- 
cessful strategy which the sharpshooters had played on their own hook, 

* "The confederates obtained possession of Col. Anderson's house and instantly filled it 
with their sharp-shooters. * * * This was only some thirty or forty yards from 
the [Federal] outer line of entrenchments."— #<. Louis Republican report. 



350 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY 



these troops in line very naturally supposed that the firing from the win- 
dows was by federals, and so reported. This state of things shows plainly 
enough how it happened that such contrary assertions were positively 
made in regard to this matter; and both sides can now afford to accept the 
truth of it — that the federals did not perfidiously use a hospital building 
as a garrison, as Pollard asserts; and the confederates did not wantonly 
assault a hospital, as Col. Mulligan and the federal writers claimed. 
The following diagram is given to make the matter more intelligible: 



DIAGRAM OF THE HOSPITAL POSITION. 



L 



r 1 




Hospital . 

O 
Spring . b 



Explanation.— "A'" is the Anderson house, or hospital. -'B" is a smaller brick house back of it. 
"C 1 was an outlying, low earthwork, projecting down nearly into the ravine represented by the dot line, 
while the enclosed earthwork was built up around the head of the ravine, as shown by the plain line. 
4, D" was the sally-port in the earthworks, and was about 103 yards from the hospital. "B" was a canal- 
like carriage-way leading up to the house, and in which the sharpshooters lay secure, only about SO feet 

from the front, door of the hospital, "A." > ' ' ' These marks represent federal picket guard stations 

with a little dirt thrown up for protection from bullets. The dotted line, 8 8 8, shows a "deep gorge or 
ravine which was full of confederate sharpshooters; they found good shelter under its steep banks, as 
marked s 8 s. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 351 

After Mulligan's men recaptured the Anderson House they then fired from 

it, the same as the confederate sharpshooters had done before, although 

the hospital flag was still flying. But in a short time — not more than one 

or two hours — the confederates came on again with increased forces, drove 

them out, and again took possession. Some of the confederate soldiers 

who took part in this second affair knew nothing about the first one — 

didn't know that there had been any other — and hence, these, from this 

circumstance, were misled in their ideas about the first firing from the 

building. 
t 

FKDEARL OPERATIONS. 

As soon as word was sent to Mulligan that the hospital had been cap- 
tured, he ordered a German company, of Peabody's regiment, to retake 
it. This company, Mulligan says, refused to go outside of the breastwork, 
saying: "We shall go not out, for it is bad to go out!" A company of 
White's home guards was then ordered to "go out," but it would "go not 
out." "Then," Mulligan says, "the Montgomery guards, Capt. Gleason, 
of the Irish brigade, were brought out. The captain admonished them that 
the other companies had shrank from the task, and with a brief exhorta- 
tion to uphold the name they bore, gave the word to ' charge /' The dis- 
tance was SCO yards. They started out from the intrenchments, first 
quick, then double-quick, then on a run. The enemy poured a shower of 
bullets upon them, but on they went. They ran down the slope to the 
hospital, and, with great bravery, drove the enemy before them, hurling 
them far down the hill beyond." 

The assault was no doubt a brave one, but it was also a ferocious one. 
Mulligan had said: "Teach the d — d vagabonds what it means to charge 
a hospital, and abuse wounded men, and insult a priest;" and Gleason's 
company took but one prisoner, a young man named Mansur, from the 
north side of the river; he got under the blanket with one of the Illinois 
cavalrymen who was lying sick, and so passed for a sick man himself, and 
thus escaped. All the rest caught in the building were shot or bayoneted; 
three of these latter were from Richmond, Ray county. These federal 
soldiers have been accused of barbarity, but they were resenting what 
they at the time fully believed to have been a wanton violation of the hos- 
pital flag. 

The federals held the Anderson house but a short time. It was retaken 
that evening, after a hot fight on the part of Capt. Gleason, who was 
twice wounded; once by a ball, which passed through both cheeks, and 
again by another, that went through his arm. The loss of the federals, at 
the Anderson house, Mulligan says, was thirty out of eighty men 
engaged. It is said that four of these were sick and wounded men in the 
hospital, who were killed by shots not aimed at them. The priest, Father 



352 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Butler, was wounded by a bullet, which cut a groove entirely across his 
forehead. 

Mulligan's position now was indeed a perilous one. Environed on all 
sides, subjected to a disagreeably accurate fire, both of artillery and small 
arms, his men dared not expose themselves. Now they were entirely cut 
off from the river, and Marshall's cavalrymen and some of the teamsters 
had watered their horses out of the cisterns at the college, and there was 
but little water left — what there was being muddy. Two springs at the 
foot of the blufls, one on the north and one on the south, were closely 
guarded by the enemy, and it was death to venture to them. Mrs. Engle 
and Mrs. McDonald, wives of two soldiers, were inside the fortifications* 
They ventured down to the spring on the north side for water, but were 
met by the guards, given refreshing draughts themselves, their buckets 
politely taken from them, and they then returned of their own accord to 
their husbands. Greeley's history, and several others, sav that in their 
extremity "the soldiers caught the falling rain in their blankets, and then 
wrung it out into camp-dishes, to assuage their thirst." Lieut. McClure's 
diary notes that rain fell during the afternoon of September 13; and the 
Chicago Tribune's account of the battle says, "a heavy rain came at inter- 
vals, greatly to their relief." — (Rebellion Record, Vol. 3, p. 71.) One of 
Col. Mulligan's men prepared a consecutive and well written account of 
the battle for the Chicago Post, in which he says: "On the morning of 
the 19th it rained heavily for about two hours, saturating our blankets, 
which we wrung out into our canteens for drinking." 

On the 19th the situation was unchanged save for the worse, and on the 
20th it was still worse. Marshall's cavalrymen and the horses were a 
great- disadvantage to the Federals. The men could not fight save only 
as a soldier of another command was shot and unable to use his musket, 
for they were armed only with old dragoon pistols that would not carry 
above 100 yards, and then would hit nothing they were fired at. The 
horses were only in the way. Many were killed and the stench from their 
carcasses soon became unbareable. The dead bodies of the men that had 
been killed were also very offensive, for they were permitted to lie above 
ground awaiting the close of the fight, until the night of the 19th, when 
some of them were given a hasty and imperfect burial inside of the works. 
The horses became frantic with thirst and many of them ran about the 
works unrestrained and trampled upon the soldiers. Their masters were 
for the time being non-combatants, and only sought to shelter themselves 
from the bullets of the enemy. 

*The wife of Col. Mulligan was in the city, a gnest of the family of Wm. Hunter, Esq. 
She had come from Jefferson City after the seige commenced. Mrs. Maj. Van Horn 
was at the Virginia hotel, then kept by Henry Turner, Esq., on the corner of Laurel and 
Franklin streets (now the Opera House). Dr. Alexander was then postmaster, and deliv- 
ered the federal soldiers' mail to Mrs. Van Horn. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. • 353 

The position of Mulligan's forces the greater portion of the time were 
as follows: The Irish brigade [regiment] were in the woods on the north 
aad northeast; Peabody's regiment and one or two of the home guard 
companies were upon the south, and Col. White's home guards, Neet's, 
Graham's and Van Horn's men held the west line and an angle on the 
south. 

On the evening of the 18th Dr. Cooley, being on parole, came up from 
the Federal hospital to the entrenchments on an errand. As he passed 
Capt. Neet, he whispered, "Lookout! they'll charge you to-night." Thus 
forewarned, a picket rope was procured from the cavalry and stretched in 
front of the breastworks and between them and the hospital. True enough, 
at about 9 o'clock a charge was made by some of the men of Rive's com- 
mand, but it was easily repulsed, with some loss on the part of the assail- 
ants, the picket rope tripping many of them up and adding to'the confu- 
sion which led to their repulse. 

On the 19th a fire from all sides was kept up on the fort, and many 
Federals were struck. The old squirrel rifles were getting in their work. 
Their owners crept up, and with a tree, a stump, a rock, or a hump of 
earth for a breastwork, they fired at every animated object they saw 
inside of Mulligan's works. Not a " yankee " dare raise his head above 
the parapet, and indeed, not a " reb " dare expose himself to Mulligan's 
muskets either. Many of the Missouri sharp-shooters were up in trees, 
from which positions they made it especially warm for the Federals. At 
8 o'clock p. m. a proposition to surrender was received by Mulligan and 
rejected. 

At 1 o clock on the morning, of the 20th the batteries of the State forces 
opened on the Unionists, occasioning some alarm on the part of the latter 
and apprehension of an immediate assault; but none was made, and the 
camp relapsed into something of quietude, notwithstanding the incessant 
firing of the riflemen of Rains and Harris and Parsons and Slack. 

Provisions were scarce in Mulligan's camp. There were no crackers 
or " hard-tack," and no water with which to prepare flour lor baking. 
By some means a little was procured and some "slap-jacks" made by 
some of the Irishmen on the night of the 19th. But the Federals did not 
complain so much of hunger as of thirst; and while there was much dis- 
tress from the latter cause there was comparatively little complaint upon 
that score. Officers and men were anxious to fight the battle to the end, 
let that be what it might. And the end was beginning. 

Mulligan hoped that either re-inforcements would reach him, or that 
Price would assault him. The only really practicable points of assault upon 
his works were east, north and south of the heavy breastworks about the 
college building and the boarding house, and these were easily defended. 
The ground in front was dug full of pits, the ditch was deep and broad 



354 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and the approaches heavily mined. A storming column would have been 
blown into the air before it could reach the pits, and there were mines up 
to the edge of the ditch. 

An assault was advised by some of the subordinate commanders of the 
State troops, and hundreds of men were quite willing to attempt it; but 
Gen. Price refused to needlessly expose his men to such great danger, 
when he had as he expressed it, a " dead sure thing " on Mulligan's com- 
mand. " There is no use in killing the boys now," he is reported to have 
said; "poor fellows! They may, some of them at least, be killed soon 
enough." 

The morning of the 20th dawned cold and cloudy. Bledsoe's battery 
opened early on the college building, and was assisted by a section of 
Guibor's, under Capt. S. Churchill Clark, of St. Louis. The object was 
to Datter down the building, or make it untenable for Mulligan and his 
men; but the calibre of the artillery was too small to effect much in this 
direction. All of the guns were six-pounders, save " old Sacramento," the 
famous twelve-pounder of Bledsoe's battery. The Federal artillery replied 
very infrequently. Ammunition was getting scarce. Adams' two guns 
of Peabody's command had only a few solid shot, cast in Morrison's 
foundry, by Lieut. McNulty, of IMarshall's cavalry, and all the artillery 
cartridges used during the siege were made by hand. One iron gun in 
charge of the Lexington home guards under Capt. Pirner used canister 
shot, made very rudely by themselves. (See article headed " Battle Items.") 

Mulligan's artillery fired many shots into the town. One of the can- 
non balls struck one of the Doric columns of the court house, and the 
place where it struck is plainly visible at this day. Another struck 
the rear of the business house on the corner of North (or Main) and 
Pine streets, where Geo. F. Maitland's grocery house is now located; the 
ball passed through the iron window grating, and then striking a large iron 
safe near its corner, plunged diagonally through its iron and asbestos wall 
and out again diagonally through the next rectangle wall. E. Winsor, 
Esq., now has that safe in his insurance office; and how that cannon ball 
could go through, instead of glancing, when it struck the heavy iron safe 
at a slant, is a philosopical mystery. A hot shot set on fire a frame building 
on Main street, behind whii h one of Guibor's guns had been placed, and 
the house was wholly consumed. It belonged to John M. Fleming, a 
decided union man. Other houses in various parts of town, mostly near 
the college, were burned by hot shot from Adams'guns. On the last day 
of the siege, Guibor's battery fired some hot shot at the federals, aiming 
at the college building, but did not succeed in burning it. 

At about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, quite spirited fighting 
took place on the northwest quarter of the federal intrenchments, between 
Harris' and Martin Green's northeast Missourians on one side, and Beck- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 355 

er's home guard, and one company of the Irish regiment on the other. 
Green's men made a splendid charge on the outer line of breastworks, and 
carried them, but were shortly after driven out with some loss. Kelley's 
battery was moved up to the position occupied by Gen. Harris' force,* and 
quickly opened a very effective fire. 

When the federal transports were taken, the lower decks of one of them 
were protected by hemp bales procured from some of the warehouses on 
the wharf. On the evening of the 19th, some of Harris' men themselves 
rolled some of these bales part way up the bluff", and lay down to sleep 
behind them. After this all the hemp bales in Anderson's, McGrew's, 
Sedgwick's, and other warehouses, were brought forward and used with 
powerful effect. [See article headed "The Hemp Bale Strategy," on 
another page]. 

At 12 o'clock on the 20th, the situation of the federals was desperate 
and distressing. Mulligan was wounded in the arm by a grape shot from 
Bledsoe's guns, and through the calf of the leg bv a squirrel rifle ball. 
Marshall was wounded in the chest; White was severely wounded, (shot 
through the lungs, but lived a cripple in St. Louis, for six or eight years 
afterward); Peabody was wounded; Van Horn was wounded; Groverwas 
wounded ; other officers were wounded. Major Becker was in the outer 
works, the only undisabled officer in his rank.f 

At about half past one o'clock Major Becker, from the works near the 
college building, raised a white flag. Instantly, the firing on the part of 
Price's troops slackened, and soon ceased altogether. The federals in 
other parts of the works did not understand the silence that followed, and 
when told that it meant surrender, many of them cursed and upbraided 
Becker for his action, declaring themselves able and willing to " fight the 
thing out." Whether or not Col. Mulligan in his heart approved the 
raising of the white flag at the time cannot be stated. Certain it is that 
he manifested much emotion, going to the extent of shedding tears, and 

denouncing the "d d cowardly home guards," but it is just as certain 

that he soon sent out Capt. McDermott, of the Irish brigade, with a white 
handkerchief tied to a ramrod, and directed him to make arrangements 
for a parley. Maj. Moore, also of the brigade, was sent to Gen. Price's 
headquarters, and the terms of surrender were arranged. These were 
unconditional — the officers were to be retained as prisoners of war, the 
men to be paroled and allowed to depart with their personal property, 
after surrendering their arms and accouterments. 

No sooner was the white flag seen to go up from the federal intrench- 
ments than the Missourians manifested an anxious desire to cheer. " Wait 

♦According to Geu. Price's report. 

fit is said that when Becker was told that all the other officers were disabled, and he 
was now in chief command, he replied, " Veil, den I shtops tnis tamm foolishness poorly 
gwick ! " 



356 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

a moment, boys," said Gen. Rains, " until we ascertain if they really want 
to surrender, and then you may halloo all you want to." In a few minutes 
the situation was understood, and then there was cheering to be remem- 
bered! The confederates poured over the breastworks to make the 
capture complete, but, not before many of Marshall's men killed their fine 
cavalry horses to prevent their falling into the hands of their captors. 
Some of the union troops cursed Becker most bitterly. " We have sur- 
rendered — there's a white flag up," said some of Peabody's men to Ridge's 
company. "Who put it up?" was asked. "Becker." "D — n Becker! 
kill him! shoot him!" and a volley was fired at him without effect. Yet, 
perhaps, after all, Becker did the sensible thing; and perhaps the men who 
denounced him were secretly satisfied. 

At five p. m., the stars and stripes over the college building were taken 
down and the Irish flag of green, bearing thereon the harp and the sham- 
rock, was captured from its bearers in Mulligan's regiment. Each com- 
pany in the brigade had its own flag, presented to it by friends at home, 
and every flag was lost. A small confederate flag captured by the home 
guards, when the night assault was made, was among the trophies tha 
the federals concealed and took away with them. 

At four o'clock, p. m., on Saturday, the federal forces having laid down 
their arms, were marched out of the entrenchments to the tune of " Dixie," 
played by the bands of the state guard, while great cheers went up from 
Price's soldiers and their friends. That same night the Illinois troops 
were sworn not to take up arms against the state of Missouri, or the con- 
federate states and were sent across the river under an escort from Rains' 
division to Richmond. The next day they reached Hamilton, a station on 
the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, and then took the cars for Quincy, 
Illinois. The next day Peabody's regiment and the home guards were 
turned adrift, on parole, not to take up arms again until regularly 
exchanged. As some of the home guards lived in Lexington, they were 
soon at their homes. Gen. Price gave some of them up to their wives on 
the day of the surrender. 

AFTER THE SURRENDER. 

I 

After the surrender the union prisoners were uniformly well treated. 
Gen. Rains' men especially were kind to the men whom they escorted to 
Richmond, slaughtering a flock of sheep for them on the way. Gen. Price 
and his men were also courteous and generous to the prisoners. " Old 
Pap " admired the pluck of Mulligan and refused to take his sword. 
Some of the more unprincipled of the men of Price's army, however, 
acted outrageously. A doctor of Lexington, named Roberts, made an 
assault upon Col. Marshall with a bowie-knife, and announced his 
intention of killing that officer, while he was a wounded prisoner -at the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 357 

residence of George Wilson, Esq. He was prevented by Mr. Wilson 
and others. 

As Mulligan's men marched down street on their way across the river, 
many citizens and some soldiers called out to them arid hooted at them, 
and these persons had before made the same demonstrations, and this 
caused Gen. Price to issue an order that the troops of Gen. Mulligan, 
" having fought gallantly and heroically," were not to be disturbed " by 
act, word or deed." 

"The visible fruits" of Gen. Prices victory were the prisoners, stated 
by the General himself, in the exhuberance of joy over his victory, at 
" about 3,500 men," but amounting really to less than 2,700 of all arms; 
five pieces of cannon, all six-pounders; two old ineffective mortars; about 
3,000 stand of arms for infantry and cavalry; nearly 600 horses; a lot of 
equipments, wagons, etc.; a quantity of commissary stores and some other 
property. The moral effect was of inestimable value to the southern 
cause. The state had been pronounced out of the union by Gov. Jackson, 
but the legislature had not yet adopted a formal act of secession.* The 
result at Lexington prepared the minds of vast numbers of people for 
secession, strenghtened the weak and encouraged the faint-hearted in the 
cause, and made many a soldier for the confederate army. Many a man 
in this part of Missouri when he heard of Mullian's capture avowed him- 
self a "secessionist all the time!" And many a man who had concluded 
to enroll himself as a union man, thought better of it, and became in ■time 
a confederate. 

The loss of Lexington was a very severe one for the federals. Fre- 
mont was greatly exercised over the matter. He had trusted to Gen. 
Jeff. C. Davis at Jefferson City, and to Gen. Pope and Sturgis to re-en- 
force Mulligan, and was totally surprised when ^he heard of the latter's 
surrender, two days after it occurred. He instantly put his troops in 
motion to try and retrieve the disaster. 

THE HEMP-BALE STRATEGY. 

The use of hemp-bales by Gen. Price's army for movable breastworks, at 
the battle of Lexington, is a matter that has been a source of dispute and con- 
troversy — first, as to who is entitled to the honor of first suggesting it; 
secondly, as to whether the bales were wetted or not; thirdly, as to 
whether they caused the final surrender or not. There are different claim- 
ants of the original idea or first suggestion of it, as we show hereafter. 
The official reports, which we have fished up out of dusty oblivion, show 

*It was at Lexington, September 26, 1861, that Gov. Jackson issued his proclamation, 
calling the legislature to meet at Neosho, on the 21st of October; 39 representatives and 10 
senators responded to the call, as officially stated by Col. Isaac N. Shambaugh of DeKalb 
county. And although having far short of a lawful quorum, an act of secession was for- 
mally passed by this body and members elected to the confederate congress at Richmond. 



358 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

that the bales, or at least a considerable number of them, were wetted, and 
also that they were the immediate cause of the white flag being raised by 
Maj. Becker on the Federal earthworks, for their most formidable and 
overwhelming approach was in^front and to the right and left of his com- 
mand. 

Pollard in his history, "The Lost Cause," p. 165 says: "Gen. Price 
caused a number of hemp bales to be transported to the river heights, "etc. 

Bevierin his history, " The Confederate First and Second Missouri Brig- 
ades," p. 306, says: " After much consultation, Gen. Harris hit upon a 
happy plan. * * A large quantity of hemp bales," etc. 

Edwards in his history entitled, "Shelby and His Men," p. 44, says: 
" Col. Thomas Hinkle, of Wellington, claimed the hemp bale idea." 

A letter from Col. Wingo, dated at Salem, Dent county, Missouri, July 
25, 1881, to this historian, says: 

"As to the hemp-bale strategy, I shall claim the honor of that until a 
better title is presented. Immediately after I was wounded,* when visited 
by Gen. McBride and Gov. Jackson, I told them both to use the hemp 
bales, and to suggest the use of them to Gen. Price. But as some one 
else might have thought of the same thing at the same time, and as the 
ball that tore my shoulder to pieces knocked all the love of military glory 
out of me, you have my permission to give this honor and glory to any 
one who claims it. E. T. Wingo, 

Col. ist Regt. yth Div. Mo. State Guards, in the late unpleasantness. 

Capt. J. C. Jamison, who commanded Co. D in Lieut.-Col. Hull's bat- 
talion, writes from Louisiana, Missouri, July 25, 1881: " My impression 
now is that Gen. Martin Greene was the originator of the hemp bale por- 
table fortification." 

Col. N. P. Minor, of same place and date as above, writes: " Of the 
hemp bale strategy I know nothing as to the author; but it was successful; 
and as Gen. Price was full of hard horse sense, I presume he originated it." 

And now comes another claimant with strong backing. Col. C. W. 
Bell, who was adjutant of Gen. John B. Clark's third division, Missouri 
State guards [at that time in command of Col. Congreve Jackson] writes 
us from Brunswick, Missouri, August 4, 1881: "The night after the 
arrival of Gen. Price with his forces at Lexington, Col. M. G. Singleton, 
of Boone county, being then in command of a regiment in Gen. Clarke's 
brigade, informed me that he had with certainty learned of the ware- 
houses at Lexington being full of hemp bales, and this fact had suggested 
to him the advantageous use of the hemp bales as portable breastworks in 
assaulting the fortifications of the enemy. At the request of Col. Singleton 
I that night gave his suggestions and plan for using the hemp bales to 

*Col. Wingo was in Gen. J. H. McBride's brigade, and was shot through the shoulder 
in the first day's tight or preliminary skirmish, Sept. 12th, on the southeastern outskirts of 
Lexington City, near trie Macpelah cemetery. This was about seven days before any 
hemp bales were actually used. — Historian. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 359 

Gen. Price, who readily saw the value of the suggestions, and that night 
issued orders for the collection and preparation of the hemp bales. This 
was the first suggestion which was made to Gen. Price, as he then 
informed me. Severe illness of Col. S. prevented him from participating 
in the engagement at all; but his hemp bale portable strategy, under the 
immediate command of the gallant Gen. Harris, Col. Rives, and other 
brave and skillful officers and soldiers, was beyond doubt of incalculable 
advantage in winning the brilliant victory of Lexington. At the solicita- 
tion of the friends of Col. Singleton, and a desire on my part to vindicate 
the truth of history, this communication has been made to you. What- 
ever honor may attach to the originating of the hemp bale strategy, that 
honor is due to Col. Singleton, who in my presence received the thanks 
of that noble old hero, Gen. Price, for having made the suggestion. 

C. W. Bell, 
Former Adjt.-Gen. of Gen. "jf. B. Clarke's Div. Mo. State Guards. 
In addition to the above, we have a letter written at St. Louis, August 
24, 1881, by Capt. F. B. Fulem wider, who commanded a company in Col. 
Singleton's regiment, and to whom the letter is addressed, in which he 
says: " In reference to the hemp bale strategy, I will say I have a distinct 
remembrance that you told me at the time the fight at Lexington was 
going on, that you suggested it to Col. Bell, and he for you to Gen. Price. 
I have no doubt, from my remembrance of all the facts at the time of the 
fight, that you are justly entitled to the honor of the hemp bale move- 
ment." 

Thus it will be seen that Col. Singleton's claim seems to be best authen- 
ticated, while Col. Wingo's, according to the dates given, was the first 
hemp-bale suggestion, in point of time, but does not appear to have ever 
reached Gen. Price at all. And the foregoing citations serve well to show 
how very difficult it is to obtain authentic and reliable information. A 
good historian has to be sheriff", prosecuting attorney, defendant's counsel, 
judge and jury, all within himself, before he can thoroughly gather and 
properly analyze the testimony and the facts, and sift out the bottom 
truth of the whole matter. And that is what we have done with regard 
to disputed points concerning the battle of Lexington. 

In Gen. Harris' official report to Gen. Price, after the battle, he says: 
" I directed Capt. Geo. A. Turner, of my staff, to request of you 132 
bales of hemp, which you promptly accorded. * * I directed the bales 
to be wet in the river to protect them against the casualties of fire of our 
troops and of the enemy. But it was soon found that the wetting so 
materially increased the weight as to prevent our men in their exhausted 
condition from rolling it to the crest of the hill; I then adopted the idea of 
wetting the hemp after it had been transported to its position. In the 
arduous and extremely trying duty of transporting the hemp, I cannot 



360 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

neglect to recognize the action and cordial co-operation of the commands 
of Colonels Rives and Hughs, Majors Winston and Thornton, Captains 
Mitchell, Grooms and Spratt, and- Adjutant Fleury, of Gen'l Stein's divi- 
sion, Major Peaches, of Gen. Clark's division, and Major Welton, and 
officers and men of Gen. McBride's division. * * At 8 o'clock a.m., 
on the 20th inst., I ordered up additional hemp bales to extend the defences 
at the position occupied by Col. Green and Lieut. Cols. Hull and Brace. 
I directed them to be used as portable breastworks, to be pushed forward 
towards the enemy's lines in parallel approaches. The disclosure of the 
htmp defences or approaches as they might be called, elicited the obsti- 
nate resentment of the enemy, who was profuse in his bestowals of round 
and grape shot, and was not at all economical of his minnie balls. But our 
men, gallantly led by their officers, continued to approach the enemy, 
pouring in upon him a most destructive fire until about 2 o'clock, p. m., 
when he surrendered." 

Col. Hughes in his official report says: 

" On the morning of the 19th, we rose from our 'bivouac' upon the 
hills to renew the attack. This day we continued the fighting vigorously 
all day, holding possession of the hospital buildings, and throwing large 
wings from both sides of the house, built up of bales of hemp saturated 
with water, to keep them from taking fire. These portable hemp bales 
were extended, like the wings of a partridge net, so as to cover and pro- 
tect several hundred men at a time, and a most terrible and galling and 
deadly fire was kept up from them upon the works of the enemy by my 
men. I divided my forces into reliefs and kept some 300 of them pour- 
ing in a heavy fire incessantly upon the enemy, supplying the places of 
the weary with fresh troops. On the night of the 19th we enlarged and 
advanced our defensive works very near to- the enemy's entrenchments, 
and at day break opened upon their line with most fatal effect. During 
the night we captured several of the enemy who were seeking for water, 
outside the fortifications. Some thirty of the enemy were killed by the 
men under my command, in their effort to procure water at the hospital 
well and spring near by." 

THE LEXINGTON BANK'S WAR MONEY. 

Upon the capture of Mulligan the coin and currency taken from the 
Lexington bank were anxiously inquired after. As before stated, the 
money had been buried under Col. Mulligan's tent in the fort. [See 
article headed "Federal Seizure of the Lexington Bank."] It was resur- 
rected and every dollar of the gold delivered up to Gen. Price. Upon tak- 
ing up the currency, which had been placed in tin boxes or cases and 
sealed, one of the boxes designated as "No. 3," was found to have been 
cut open, "as if a sword, or bowie-knife, or hatchet had been used," the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 361 

report says, and $15,000 in notes of the bank was missing. A memo- 
randum was made of the fact, now on file in the bank of Wentworth & 
Morrison. Upon representations of all the facts in the ease to Gov. Jack- 
son and Gen. Price they ordered all the money, gold and paper, to be 
returned to the bank, but in a few days made a demand upon the bank 
for a portion of the gold themselves. 

In the previous March the legislature of Missouri had passed an act for 
the relief of certain banks of the State, which was in effect to allow of 
their suspension, conditioned upon their loaning to the State on its bonds 
a certain portion of their funds. These bonds were to be issued by the 
treasurer and signed by the secretary of State and the governor. At the 
time of the capture of Lexington the State convention of Missouri had 
met at Jefferson City, deposed Gov Jackson, Lieut. Gov. Reynolds, and 
secretary Massey, and installed in their places, Hamilton R. Gamble, Wil- 
lard P. Hall, and Mordecai Oliver. 

September 30, ten days after Mulligan's surrender, Gov. Jackson 
addressed the following communication to the officers of the bank: 

Lexington, Mo., Sept. 30, 1861. 
To the President and Directors of the Farmers' Bank at Lexington: 

Gentlemen: — From the inability of the treasurer of State (caused by 
his arrest by the troops of the Federal army in this State) to make the 
proper demand of your bank for the money due by the bank to the State, 
I, Claiborne F. Jackson, governor of the State of Missouri, do hereby 
demand of your bank the amount of money due by the bank to the State, 
for and on account of the State, and, if not granted, I am prepared to 
enforce the demand. 

[Signed.] C. F. Jackson. 

As the money so demanded was in gold amounting to $37,377, and as 
it seemed probable that none of it would ever be restored, the bank made 
the following protest: 

* * * "To which said demand, and the compliance of this board there- 
with, this board do here -protest — as well against the compliance there- 
with as against the right of the said C. F.Jackson to demand the same; 
but, being satisfied that said demand will be enforced by military power, 
it is deemed advisable to comply with said demand. Thereupon it is 
ordered by the board that the cashier pay to said C. F. Jackson the sum 
of $37,377.20, the amount which the back is required to loan the State of 
Missouri, and that he take said Jackson's receipt therefor together with 
his agreement to furnish this bank the bonds of the State of Missouri 
therefor. 

And so the sum named, $37, 377.20, in good gold dollars, passed from 
the bank into Gov. Jackson's State treasury, and, of course, not one dol- 
lar of it ever was returned. The bank charged the amount up to 
profit and loss (or to patriotism !) and so the account stands to this day. 

Afterward the Gamble or Union State government made demand for 
the like sum, which was paid and bonds of the State issued therefor, pur- 



362 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

suant to the act of March 18, 1861, and these bonds were redeemed at 
their face when due. 

A report gained much credence that the money stolen by Mulligan's 
men was in gold coin amounting to many thousands of dollars, and that 
it was buried in a certain portion of the fortifications, and not a dollar 
ever returned. This led to many secret searches for the hidden treasure 
by divers covetous and credulous persons, whose search and efforts were, 
it is needless to say, fruitless. Long after the war a man came all the 
way from Kentucky to dig for the buried "gold," which he had been 
informed had been buried so many feet from a certain hackberry tree. 

GEN. STURGIS' MARCH FOR LEXINGTON. 

Gen. Fremont ordered Gen. Pope to re-inforce Mulligan at Lexington, 
and Pope telegraphed him from Palmyra on the 16th, that he had sent 
two full regiments of infantry, four pieces of artillery and 150 cavalry, 
which would reach Lexington Sept. 18th. (See article headed " The Blue 
Mills Rencontre.") Also that he had sent forward two Ohio regiments 
which would reach there on the 19th; this latter was Gen. Sturgis' com- 
mand. 

Sturgis was stationed at Macon City, on the Hannibal and St Joe rail- 
road, where he received Gen. Pope's order on Monday, Sept. 16th, to take 
two regiments and march to the relief of Lexington. On Tuesday he 
arrived by rail at Utica, in Livingston county, about forty-five miles by 
w,agon road from Lexington. He had nine companies of the 27th Ohio 
volunteer infantry, under Col. Fuller, and five companies of the 39th Ohio 
— about eleven hundred men in all, but no artillery or cavalry. He had 
considerable difficulty in getting horses and wagons to carry their camp 
equippage, ammunition and rations, but succeeded in getting under way 
and camping ten miles south of Utica that night, while he sent a messen- 
ger forward with a note for Mulligan sewed inside of his coat lining. This 
messenger was captured Wednesday b}'" bushwhackers, as a suspicious 
character, and sent that night to Gen. Price, at Lexington, where he was 
rigidly searched, and the note to Mulligan being found, he was lodged in 
the jail. Thursday morning Gen. Price issued orders to meet the case, 
which are explained by Gen. Parsons' official report, wherein he says: 

On the next morning, Thursday, Sept. 19th, I received your order to 
march with my whole division to the river. On arriving at the bank I 
ascertained that it was your desire that I should cross the river with a 
force of 3,000 men to repel the reinforcements of the enemy advancing 
from that quarter. After crossing over I ascertained that the enemy had 
heard of my approach and retired in confusion, leaving two hundred of 
their tents upon the road." 

Col. Congreve Jackson's official report shows that his command, the 3d 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 363 

division, also crossed the river that morning, Sept. 19th, to "resist the 
advance of reinforcements for the enemy under command of Gen. Stur- 
gis." 

Let us now return to Gen. Sturgis. Wednesday morning he pushed 
on, and during the day frequently heard the cannonading at Lexington. 
His men were all new recruits, had never heard the whiz of a hostile bul- 
let, and this was their first march; the day was extremely warm, and many 
of them fagged out, so that when night came they had only marched 
twenty miles, being now within fifteen miles of Lexington, where they 
could plainly hear the roar of cannon; and at the very moment when Stur- 
gis was fondly dreaming that his messenger had reached Mulligan and 
given good cheer to the beseiged, Gen. Price was ripping open that mes- 
senger's coat and finding the tell-tale missive intended for his federal oppo- 
nent. Thursday morning Sturgis' men were roused up at 1 o'clock to 
snatch their coffee and hard-tack, and prepare to march. He ordered the 
tents and all dispensible baggage to be left at a house on the roadside and 
the wagons thus released to be used for carrying those who could not 
march and carry their heavy musket and knapsacks, so that the whole 
command might push on as rapidly as possible toward Lexington. When 
he had got into Ray county and within about five miles of Lexington, he 
learned for the first time how matters stood there — that Mulligan was sur- 
rounded, his water supply cut off, his boats all captured, and 3000 troops 
thrown across the river to intercept and capture these 1,100 raw reinforce- 
ments. As soon as Sturgis could satisfy himself that he was correctly 
informed, at least as to the main facts, he immediately retreated by way 
of Richmond to Liberty Landing, thence by steamboat to Fort Leaven- 
worth. Meanwhile Gen. Parsons re-crossed the river with his command 
in time to take part in the continuous fighting kept up that afternoon. 

BATTLE ITEMS. 

A careful reckoning of the killed and wounded mentioned in the official 
reports of nine different Confederate officers gives a total of 38 killed and 
150 wounded.* This is supposed to have included only those who were 
enrolled as soldiers, and whose absences were thus accounted for at roll- 
call. The number of killed and wounded among the thousands who took 
part in this battle but were not enlisted soldiers, can never be ascertained; 
but there is no reason to doubt that the killed and wounded among this 
class were quite as many as among the enrolled men. 

On the Federal side, of course they were broken up and scattered so 
that they never had a chance to made out any roll-call reports. Their 
loss is given in the histories at 40 killed, and 120 wounded, which is prob- 

* Gen. Price's official report said 25 killed and 75 wounded; but additional reports of his 
officers came in after his report was written — and Mr. Allen printed them all at the old 
Lexington Exprets office. 



364 HISTOR t OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ably not far from correct, as they knew just how many they had under 
Mulligan's command, and the Confederates kept a reckoning of the num- 
ber of prisoners paroled. The Federal dead were buried within their 
earthworks; but the bodies were afterward dug up and removed to the 
National cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 

The number of cannon employed on each side has been a question of 
dispute. As nearly as we can make out from the various official reports, 
the Confederates had 

Bledsoe's battery 4 guns 

Clark's " 2 " 

Guibor's " 4 " 

Kelly's " 4 " 

Kneisby's " 2 " 

This gives a total of 16 guns, and is believed to be all they had, although 
some of the Federal reports put the number at twenty. 

On the Federal side there were — 

Waldschmidf s battery, with two brass six-pounders, from St. Joseph. 

Adams' 1 battery, with three iron six-pounders; this battery came with 
Mulligan from Jefferson City. 

Pinter's battery* with two iron six-pounders; one of these had been 
brought here from the U. S. arsenal at Liberty, by H. M. Bledsoe and 
Curtis Wallace. (See article headed " The First Troops Raised.") The 
other was one of the two six-pounders which had been cast at Morrison's 
foundry, its companion piece being at this time with Bledsoe's battery on 
the Confederate side. (See article headed " Lafayette Men's First 
Battle.") Pirner who also had two brass mortars, for throwing 6-inch 
spherical shells. For these he had forty shells, which were soon disposed 
of, and then the mortars were " played out." 

All the cannon balls they had were what Lieut. McNulty, an iron 
moulder who was in Marshall's cavalry regiment, had made at Morri- 
son's foundry .f The supply was short, and the men took pains every 
day to collect all the Confederate cannon balls which lodged anywhere 
within the earthworks, and the cannoneers would shoot them back again, 
for they had plenty of powder. Twenty-eight Confederate balls were 
thus collected and shot back during one day. The artillerymen made 
their own cartridges by hand at night. 

E. Winsor, Esq., now has in his office a large, heavy iron safe which 
stood in the back part (north) of a business house on Main street during 
the battle; and a cannon ball from the Federal fort plunged through two 
walls of the safe, although its iron platings were f of an inch thick, inter- 

*C. M. Pirner, then and still a resident of Lexington — druggist, and coal mine operator. 

*In his speech at Detroit, Nov. 29, Col. Mulligan said: "The men made cartridges in 
the cellar of the college building, and cast 150 rounds of shot for the guns at the foundries 
of Lexington ." 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 365 

bedded with asbestos. And Mr. Winsor's residence was struck with a 
cannon ball, which passed through the back door and through the base- 
ment floor into the ground. 

One of Mulligan's men wrote to a Chicago paper: " Of the ladies of 
Lexington it is to be said in their praise that they did everything in their 
power to relieve the sufferings of our wounded, many of whom, who were 
unabled to be moved, they received into their houses." He also writes 
that Gov. Jackson made a speech to the prisoners: "He said w r e had no 
business in Missouri; that he would take care of that state, without our 
assistance, and that we had better go home and mind our own business." 
He says Gen. Price said to them, " you were the hardest troops to cap- 
ture I have ever seen." Indeed, the Federal soldiers came to have a great 
admiration for "old Pap " Price, and his men did also for Mulligan. (See 
under Events of 1864. — " Ladies Union Aid Society.") 

During the siege some of the Confederates went into the great beer 
vault known as " Baehr's Cave," on Franklin street, tapped some of the 
gigantic casks or tanks of beer stored away there in the cool darkness 
under ground to "ripen; " they drank all they wanted and then went out, 
leaving the beer still running. But one fellow, who hadn't got enough 
yet, lingered behind, and probably got obliviously drunk and laid down, 
for he was afterwards found lying in the bottom of the vault with beer a 
foot deep over him — drowned in the flood of beer. 

POETRY ON THE LEXINGTON BATTLE. 

A few weeks after the battle of Lexington the New York Evening- 
Post, edited by our great x\merican poet, Wm. Cullen Bryant, contained 
a literary effusion which we here quote : 

" The following lines were written by a lady of Stockbridge, Conn., 
and commemorate an incident very touching and beautiful, which rests 
upon the best authority, and which ought to be known. Col. Mulligan 
refused his parole at Lexington, and his wife resolved to share his captivity. 
Accordingly she left her infant, fourteen months old, in the care of one of 
the strongest secessionist women in the town. That woman assumed the 
charge of the little child, and dressed it in the captured American flag. (?) 

The fight had ceased! The cannon's roar 

Was silent on Missouri's shore; 

The leader and his band so brave 

Had turned from walls they could not save. 

When voice was heard of sore lament, 
A mother o'er her baby bent, 
And fast the bitter tears were shed 
That fell upon his little head: 

K 



366 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

"Thy father yields his post and sword, 
But rebels shall not have his 'word'; 
In prison rather ling'ring lie, 
Than yield the right to fight and die. 

" And faithful love shall follow there, 
His hard captivity to share; 
But thee, my boy! such fate for thee! 
Like fettered cherub thus to be! 

" To pine in loathesome, poisoned air, 
To dwell in dungeon damp and bare, 
Oh ! better far for thee, my blest, 
Beneath the daisy turf to rest." 

The words her lips are scarcely past 
When round her, arms are kindly cast; 
A foeman's wife with pitying face, 
The mother and the child embrace. 

With glowing cheek, with brimming eyes, 
u Give me thy son ! " she earnest cries, 
" And haste thee! for the moments press — 
They spare thee but a brief caress! " 

She's gone, and other care shall shield 
The all-unconcious, happy child; 
Who laughs when glittering foemen come, 
And shouts at roll of hostile drum. 

But still his friend with instinct true 
Has robed him in his red and blue! 
And — mantle fit ! — has o'er him thrown 
The Jiag 'neath which the boy was born! 

— JV. T. Evening Post. 

It seems a pity to spoil so much poetry and fine sentiment; but the fact 
is, that " fettered cherub, " " thee, my boy, " etc., wasn't a boy at all, but 
a nice little girl baby all the time; and she is now Miss Marion Mulligan, 
of Chicago, one of the staff writers for the Chicago Times. Mrs. 
Dr. Boulware says that " dressing it in the captured American flag " was 
not true ; but Mrs. Hunter did trim the child's dress so as to show red, 
white and blue colors. The little girl was then about two years old. 

Col. Mulligan, after his release, reorganized his regiment and was sent 
east, where he took part in several battles or skirmishes in western and 
northern Virginia. July 24th, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of 
Kernstown, near Winchester, and died of his wounds two days there- 
after. Mulligan was born in Utica, N. Y., June 26th, 1830. His wife's 
brother, Lieut. James H. Nugent, was killed while carrying him off the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 367 

field. Mrs. Mulligan was presented with a $5,000 house and $2,500 in 
money by her husband's admirers in Chicago. 

The following is a part of a camp-fire song which was composed and 
sung by the Federal soldiers to the tune of "Happy Land of Canaan." 

Col. Mulligan's brigade 

They were never yet afraid, 
Fought at Lexington five days without complaining; 

Fed the rebels shell and shot, 

Till they out of water got, 
Then surrendered up their happy land of Canaan. 

There's the " Dutch Company, " 

Who are fighting for the free, 
When in battle every nerve they are straining; 

When it comes to run away, 

They will tell you, " nix fur stay J '" 
They're an honor to our happy land of Canaan. 

We did not find any other poetic effusions on this battle. 

RECAPTURE OF LEXINGTON. — 1861 AND 1864. 

When Gen. Price marched south with his army after the battle of Lex- 
ington he left a small force to hold the place and guard the prisoners. On 
the morning of October 16, (1861), a force of 220 union cavalry called, 
"First squadron prairie scouts," under command of Maj. Frank J. White, 
dashed into Lexington, and held possession of it thirty-six hours. They 
released Col. White, Col. Grover, and twelve other wounded union pris- 
oners, and sent them on the steamboat "Sioux City" to St. Louis. 
[Another account says it was the steam boat "Florence" [?.)] Maj. 
White's official report says: "We made from sixty to seventy prisoners; 
took sixty stand of arms, twenty-five horses, two steam ferry boats, a 
quantity of flour and provisions, a large rebel flag, and other articles of 
less value. * * After administering the oath of allegiance to our 
prisoners we released them." 

Some historical items of capture were, Gen. Price's ambulance, Col. 
Mulligan's saddle, and the old national flag which belonged to the state 
house at Jefferson City, but had been taken to Lexington by Gov. Jack- 
son. These troops then left the place and went to Warrensburg, and the 
confederates again took possession of Lexington. 

gen. price's raid in 1864. 

Here we copy from Edwards history, page 419: 

Before Gen. Price's arrival in the vicinity, [Oct. 1864J Lexington had 
been occupied by Capt. Geo. S. Rathbern, leading a large party of officers, 
sent by Gen. Shelby, from Sulphur Rock, Arkansas, on recruiting service. 
Capt. Rathbern took quiet possession, issued proclamation assuring to the 
citizens, protection, and during his administration of affairs used every exer- 



368 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

tion to quiet the people, and was earnest and strenuous in his efforts to 
preserve life and property. The advance of Lane's forces [federal] 
obliged him to retreat, and he rejoined his regiment to render as import- 
ant services in the field as he had rendered to his fellow citizens of Lafay- 
ette county. Lexington held out many fair hands and offered many faces 
rarer than others are, inviting the army to linger about its hospitable man- 
sions and its garnered delicacies; but a stronger power than love of pleas- 
ure urged Gen. Price forward — it was not physical but moral fear. 

Again, page 423; "So close were the federals to the rear of Gen. 
Price's army after it left Lexington, about 12 o'clock the day following 
the night of its capture, that when some of Shelby's soldiers crossed there 
from the opposite side (absent on recruiting service) they were picked up 
by the advance of the enemy holding the city. Capt. W. Moorman, 
Tyler Floyd, and Ed. Stafford fell into their hands here. With Capt. 
Moorman's party were taken six other confederates who were dressed in 
blue clothing. Rosecrans' general order required their death, and they 
were taken out and instantly killed." 

Edwards says on page 418, previous to the above: "Gen. Lane com- 
ing down from Leavenworth, had occupied Lexington in force, with 
every indication of giving battle." Gen. Pleasanton had organized a 
large force of federal cavalry to pursue Price, and in his official report* 
Pleasanton says: "I assumed the command of this army, and by forced 
marches (from Jefferson City), came to Lexington on the 21st of October, 
out of which place Price had driven Gen. Curtis' troops, under Gen. 
Blunt, that morning. I pushed on the next day to the Little Blue, 
engaged Price's troops, captured two pieces of cannon and drove them 
back to the Big Blue, through Independence." 



CONFEDERATE BATTERIES AND OTHER TROOPS. 

bledsoe's battery. 

This was originally a Lafayette county organization, and therefore a 
sketch of its history properly belongs in this history of Lafayette county, 
The battery was organized at Lexington, about the middle of June, 18(51. 
in response to Gov. C. F. Jackson's proclamation calling out 50,000 state 
militia. The officers then were: Hiram M. Bledsoe, captain; Curtis 
O. Wallace, 1st lieutenant; Charles Higgins, 2d lieutenant; Frank S. 
Trigg, 3d lieutenant. The names of other members of the battery at this 
time, we have not been able to ascertain. 

At first they only had two guns; one was " old Sacramento," the gun 
which Col. Doniphan had captured from the Mexicans at Sacramento in 
1846, originally a nine-pounder, but now bored out to a twelve-pounder. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNT V. 369 

(See article headed " Lafayette Men's First Battle.") The other one was 
an iron six-pounder, one of the two that had been cast at Morrison's foundry. 
A brass six-pounder from Independence was afterwards added to the bat- 
tery. But during the course of the war Bledsoe's battery lost, captured, 
exploded and wore out guns, so that first and last it had in use every kind 
of gun known to modern artillery service — howitzers, parrotts, Rodmans, 
Napoleons, — brass, iron, steel amalgum ; rifled and smoothe bores. 

The battery was engaged, under its original commander, Capt. Bledsoe, 
of Lexington, in the battles of Springfield or Wilson's Creek, Elkhorn, 
Dry Fork, Lexington, Carthage, Corinth, Iuka, Franklin, Nashville, 
Chicamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ring- 
gold Gap, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Chickasaw Bayou, Vicksburg, 
Port Hudson, Jackson, Mississippi; Atlantic, Columbia. Owing to the 
uniform success and skill with which this battery was managed, and the 
fact that it retained the same name and commander from the first battle in 
Missouri to the final close of the war, there was probably no artillery com- 
mand on either side, which won so wide a fame as " Bledsoe's battery." 

The following list of members and casualties is all we have been able 
to gather of men from Lafayette county: 

Captain, H. M. Bledsoe, of Lexington. 

1st Lieut., Curtiss O. Wallace, of Lexington; resigned in 1862. 

2d Lieut., Charles Higgins, of Lexington ; wounded in hip with grape 
shot at Battle of Carthage. 

3d Lieut., Frank S. Trigg, of Lexington; wounded at Pea Ridge. 

At Battle of Wilson's Creek it had 40 men engaged. David Morris 
was killed. Wm. Young, of Lexington, had left arm shot off at shoulder, 
and right hand, all except the thumb and forefinger. H. P. Anderson 
shot in face and breast. Horses nearly all killed. 

At Carthage, Charles Wallace, Lieut. Higgins and Thomas Bratton 
were wounded, besides eight others, names not learned. Seven of the bat- 
tery horses were killed. 

At Dry Fork Capt. Bledsoe himself was severly wounded, but recov- 
ered sufficiently to reach Lexington and take command of his battery in 
the last day's fight there. 

J. S. Wheatley, lieutenant, enlisted, 1831; wounded at Jackson, Miss., 
July 10,1863; discharged, 1865. 

Wm. B. Steele, of Lexington ; enlisted in 1861, and served till the final 
surrender in 1865. 

John Santameyer, Davis township. 

Hezekiah Santameyer, from Davis township. 

Amos Anson, from Davis township. 

Wm. Summers, from Lexington. 

C. L. Bradley, of Lexington, enlisted in 1861, and went through. 



370 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Arthur Brown, from Mayview. 

Charles Wallace, from Lexington, went through. 

F. S. Letton, from Lexington, sergeant all through. 

Thomas Young, from Lexington, from 1S61 through. 

Hamilton Atterberry, from Aullville. 

Benj. Atterberry, from Aullville. 

Lee Boak, from Clay township. 

Charles Anderson, from Aullville. 

J. R. Martin, from Lexington, served all through. 

Several years ago a consecutive sketch of the different actions engaged 
in by this battery, was written by W. B. Steel, Esq., for six years past 
the efficient and popular county clerk. From this document, still in man- 
uscript, we copy a few stirring incidents. In September, 1862, while the 
confederates were marching south from Iuka, and being pursued and 
annoyed by the federal cavalry, the narrative says: 

Our guns [Bledsoe's battery], were placed in line by the side of the 
road; the 2d Texas regiment formed on us and in line between our guns; 
the balance of the brigade [Gen. Price's], were formed to our right and 
left, and to our rear. Our cavalry had formed on a ridge some 200 yards 
in our rear. The enemy were seen forming in our front about 200 yards 
off; they seemed to be observing our cavalry, and took no notice of 
us. We waited until about 500 or 600 had gotten in line, when we 
opened with our battery and that of the 2d Texas; we fired very rapidly 
for a few minutes, and greatly surprised the Texans by the rapidity with 
which we could fire, for we fired six rounds while they only got in two. 
This had a good effect; it stopped the enemy from any further annoyance 
and caused our trains to move up. See Gen. Maury's report of battle of 
Iuka, to Gen. Price. Also Bevier's "Confederate Brigades," page 135. 

At the battle of Resaca, second day, the narrative says: 
When the sun was fairly up, the enemy made his appearance, and our 
battery was the first to welcome them. We had hardly fired the second 
round when the enemy's batteries to our left opened on us; we at once 
turned on them, when suddenly twenty or thirty rifled guns at long range 
poured their fire upon us, and it looked as if the whole earth would be 
torn up. We kept up our firing on those batteries that were within 
range until about 2 o'clock p. m., when one of the enemy's balls from a 
rifled gun struck the right wheel of our left gun about middle way, going 
through the tire and hub, which at once dismounted our gun and she fell 
to the ground; out of nine cannoneers seven were wounded, and but two 
left to mount the gun. It was hardly a minute, however, before she was 
remounted and again engaged with the enemy. 

At the battle of Nashville : 

The enemy came out above Nashville on our left, in strong force, and 
succeeded in breaking our lines. Our division was ordered to reinforce 
the left, but the artillery was ordered to remain on the right to defend that 
part of the line, should the enemy advance. While the fight was pro- 
gressing on the left, and we were on a high elevation anxiously gazing on 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 371 

the scene, some one called, "Look, look, here they come!" "To guns, 
"to guns!" was the order. We were at once ready for action, and Cap- 
tain Bledsoe gave orders to hold fire — not to fire until the enemy were 
within twenty paces. Captain B. had his own battery, besides Capt. 
Goldthwait's and Capt. Beauregard's, making twelve Napoleon guns. 
Our guns were double charged with canister, awaiting the near approach 
of the enemy. Soon we discovered a line of battle — colored troops 
advancing on us through a blue grass pasture, and behind them a line 
of white soldiers. We held fire until they were close, when it seemed 
that every gun was fired at the same time, which created great confusion 
and panic with the enemy. We fired as fast as we could; the enemy were 
fleeing in the greatest disorder; we kept up the fire until they were out of 
sight. We found the field strewn with dead and wounded in our front; 
one of our men counted sixteen federal soldiers touching each other, so 
close were the dead lying. 

THE SECOND MISSOURI ARTILLERY, 

originally known as "Clarke's"; af cerward as •' King's "and toward the 
close of the war as " Ferris' Battery," consisted originally of four guns — 
two six pounder field pieces, and two twelve pounder howitzers, organ- 
ized by Capt. Clark, under the authority of Gen. Price, for the Missouri 
State Guard. In December, 1861, when the state guards disbanded, 
Clark, who held a captain's commission in the confederate army, recruited 
a company for "three years or the war," retaining the same guns. It was 
then known as " Clarke's Battery," or the " 2nd Missouri Artillery," and 
■was attached to the First Missouri Brigade. At the battle of Elkhorn, 
Capt. Clarke was killed while the battery was gallantly sustaining a heavy 
fire from the federal artillery. The officers and men were favorably men- 
tioned by Gen. Little in his official report of the battle. At Memphis, 
Tenn., First Lieut. Houston King, was elected captain and the battery 
was afterwards known as "Kings Battery." It did good service at the 
battles of Iuka and Corinth. In 1863, it was ordered to report to Gen. 
Earl Van Dorn, commanding cavalry division, at Okolona, Miss. At this 
time the battery consisted of two twelve pounder howitzers, confederate 
make, and two three-inch brass rifles, federal trophies. Each carriage 
was drawn by eight horses and the cannnoneers were all mounted and 
drilled to maneuver with cavalry. At the battle of Thompson's Station, 
near Spring Hill, in Tenn., this battery was especially commended by 
Gen. Van Dorn in his official report, the following account of which is 
given by Capt. Jo. A. Wilson, who was then sergeant of the company: 

"The fight lasted three or four hours, a portion of the time in a blind- 
ing snow storm. The enemy being strongly posted on a wooded hill, 
repulsed our cavalry several times, although the attack was made with 
vigor and determination. * * * Just when it seemed as if we would 
have to retire and give up the field, we heard the order, ' Limber to the 
front!' 'Cannoneers mount!' 'Forward, gallop, march!' Away we 



372 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

went up the turnpike through a shower of balls, right at the enemy's line. 
When within one hundred yards of the enemy, the guns were rapidly 
unlimbered and a destructive fire of cannister was poured into the dense 
mass of infantry, driving them back in disorder. The advantage gained 
was quickly followed up and the surrender of the entire force of federal 
infantry was the result." 

In the federal account of this engagement, taken from Harper's Weekly 
of March 21, 1863, mention is made particularly of the " heavy fire " of 
this battery. 

In the fall of 1803, twenty men and a ten pounder parrot gun from an 
Arkansas battery were attached to this company. The parrot gun took 
the place ot one of the howitzers which burst from overloading during a 
fight with federal gun-boats on the Tennessee river. Sergeant Tucker, 
chief of this piece was killed near Marietta, Ga., June 19, 1864. From 
this time until the close of the war, this battery was in almost constant ser- 
vice, engaged principally in harrassing Sherman on his march to the sea. 
In April, 1865, it surrendered to Gen. Canby at Gainesville, Alabama. In 
a little less than four years this company had marched over nine thousand 
miles, traveled by rail and steamer over twelve hundred miles, took part 
in over sixty engagements and fired about fifteen thousand rounds of 
ammunition. From first to last it had on its muster roll, about 150 men, 
the average number belonging being from 80 to 100. Following is a list 
of the members who went from this county, with a record of their present 
place of residence and occupation as far as can be ascertained: 

Capt. Houston King. 

Sergeant Jo. A. Wilson; banker, Lexington, Mo. 

Sergeant John C. Campbell; died at St. Louis, 1866. 

Sergeant Andrew Francisco, Waverly, Mo. 

Corporal B. F. Denny. 

Corporal Henderson Yokely, Pulaska, Tenn. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen Coleman, died at Waverly, Mo. 

Robt. Davis, Indian Nation. . 

Henry Francisco, Waverly, Mo. 

John Goggins, Waverly, Mo. 

J. W. James, Waverly, Mo. • 

Thos. C. James, Waverly, Mo. 

Thos. J. Jones, Waverly, Mo. 

Van King, Waverly, Mo. 

Aaron R. Levering, died after the war. 

Joseph D. Marquis, died in Saline countv, Mo. 

James Rollins, died in Saline county, Mo. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 373 

♦ 

Ben Rollins, Lexington, Mo. 
Wesley Smith, farmer, Lexington, Mo. 
R. W. Shockley, Ray county, Mo. 
Andrew Yokeley, Lafayette county, Mo. 

collins' battery, 

was organized in April, 1862, in Arkansas, and was made up largely of 
Lafayette county men. It became the especial pet of Gen. Joe Shelby 
and his cavalry brigade, and played an important part in some of the most 
dashing and brilliant exploits of that very remarkable command. It was 
this battery which made the celebrated capture of the federal iron-clad 
gunboat £>iieen City, and blew her up at Clarendon, Arkansas. The bat- 
tery comprised four splendid guns, nearly or quite all trophies of their 
own capture; the organization had 87 men, rank and file, of whom 21 
were killed and 29 wounded. One of its novel and romantic features was 
a pet black bear, which the men kept with them through many marches 
and battles. It is said that these guns were first commanded by Joseph 
Bledsoe, a brother of Hiram Bledsoe of battery fame; but the only list of 
officers we found which seemed to be authentic, was, Capt. R. A. Col- 
lins; Sen. lst-Lieut., J. D. Connor; Jr. 1st Lt., D. M. Harris; Sen. 2d Lt., 
C. T. Smith; Jr. 2d Lt., J. E. Inglehart. Lieut. Connor is the present 
county recorder. He made all reasonable effort to procure a full list of 
the Lafayette county men in this command, but could not obtain it. Their 
pet bear's name was " Postlewait." 

Charles Tyler, Sergt., enlisted in 1861; transferred from 1st Missouri 
artillery to this battery. 

1ST MISSOURI LIGHT BATTERY — C S. A. 

The names of the following Lafayette men appear upon the muster 
roll of the " 1st Missouri Light Battery, C. S. A.:" Samuel T. Ruffner, 
Captain; John O. Lockhart, 1st Lieutenant; Benj. D. Weedin, 2d Lieut.; 
Jacob R. Hendrix, 5th Sergt.; Wm. C. Slusher, 5th Corporal; David 
Rolston, 7th Corporal; Henry C. Herr, 8th Corporal; Felix G. Young, 
Eugene M. Ewing, Jackson Bradley, John W. Burns, E. B. Crumpt, 
James Crumpt, Gabriel B. Crumpt, T. R. Crews, Benj. F. Campbell, 
James F. Earley, Charles B. Fleming, Henry Holkensmith, B. M. Lank- 
ford, F. E. McCormack, John F. McCormack, Hugh L. McElroy, Quin- 
tius Masterson, H. A. Morrison, Wm. K. Nichols,. Bennet E. Phillips, 
Archibald Pool, Wm. H. Roberts, Nathan Roberts, A. Clay Roberts, 
Wm. Roberts, Wm. Rankins, R. M. Ramsey, Horace E. Ragland, James 
Seawell, C. C. Slusher, A. B. Slusher, D. A. Slusher, James W. Small, 
Geo. H. Small, John T. Small, John W. Simmons, Francis M. West, Jos. 
S. Woods, Fredrick A. Young, Wm. C. Bradley, Farrier, and Wm. Able. 



37-i HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

This last man was killed by the enemy while on detached service with 
Col. Brook's cavalry. Except this, there are no other cases of either 
killing or wounding of a Lafayette county man in this battery. 

PARTLY FROM LEXINGTON. 

A portion of Company A., of Col. Bowman's regiment of Missouri 
State Guards was from Lafayette county. They served in Gen. Wight- 
man's brigade, Raines' Division, under Gen. Price, and were in the bat- 
tles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Pea Ridge, and others. 
Lieut. Venable, of Lexington, has furnished us the following list of those 
from this county, and date of death of those now deceased as far as known: 
Capt. Joseph Moreland (died since the war), First Lieut. Yandell Black- 
well (died in Mexico), Second Lieut. George P. Venable, Third Lieut. 
Charles H. Anderson. The enlisted men are: John N. Edwards, Charles 
Jones, Ezekiel Newman, William B. Hamlett, William Shepard, William 
Barnes, Paul Baker, James Baker (died since the war), Jerry Bair, Rich- 
ard Janes, Bal. Crump, A. Persinger, Henry Clawson (died in California), 
John C. Campbell (died in St. Louis, 1866), A O. Persinger, Burris Car- 
roll, H. Rice, Ike Persinger, James Crump, Harvey Persinger, Hunter 
Ben Jenkins, Robert Hunter (died 1862), Col. John P. Bowman, died 
after the battle of Pea Ridge, and was buried at Van Buren, Arkansas; 
Gen. Weightman died of wounds received at the battle of Wilson's 
Creek. 

LIST OF CAPT. WITHERS' COMPANY, ENROLLED AS M. S. GUARDS, ABOUT 

APRIL 1, 1861. 

James M. Withers, captain, served six months. 

Charles S. Ewing, lieutenant, served three months. 

Samuel Gibbs, second lieutenant, killed at Corinth. 

A. O. Slaughter, third lieutenant, served six months. 

A. P. Lankford, served two months. 

Mat Creasey, killed at Corinth. 

Edd Blewett, killed at Corinth. 

Bob Bradley, killed at Vicksburg. 

Thomas Procter, killed at Missionary Ridge. 

Daniel P. Ingram, served the war. 

William Smith, served three months. 

Edd Smith, served three months. 

Wesley Smith, served during the war. 

Sam Humphreys, last at Altona. 

John Southerland, Sr., died at Vanburen. 

Zach Southerland, served three years. 

Zenith Redd, killed in Missouri. 

Sam McMahan, killed in Missouri. 



HISTORY OF LAYFAETTE COUNTY. 375 

John Varner, killed in Arkansas. 

Al Robberson, served six months. ' 

Hop Robberson. served three months. 

Joseph Allumbaug, killed at Mark's Mills. 

Thai. Osborn, killed in Missouri. 

A. O. Whitsith, served three months. 

Milton Whitsith, died at Marshfield. 

John Swirsh, died at Wild Haws, Arkansas. 

Joseph Bailey, served thirty days. 

George Powell, served three months. 

John Pumphrey, served three months. 

Frank Hays, served three months. 

Tom Garrott, wounded at Corinth, served the war. 

David Nance, wounded at Corinth, served the war. 

Peter Burton, killed at Lamar, Mo. 

Lafayette Burton, served six months. 

Edd Fleming, served three months. 

Arthur Fleming, served three months. 

Thomas Mullins, served during war. 

Issac Mullins, served six months. 

David Storm, served during the war. 

Jonas Ragdale, died in Mississippi. 

Charles Smith, served six months. 

Tesley Smith, served six months. 

Joseph Emison, served nine months. 

Fan Harlow, served three months. 

Berthan Clarkson, served two years. 

W. N. Thorp, served during the war. 

John Perry, served during the war. 

Pat Marshall, wounded at Vicksburg. 

Weed Marshall, wounded at Vicksburg. 

Philip Slaughton, served during the war. 

Edd Boring, died at Tupalo. 

Isaac Bledsoe, killed at Lone Jack. 

Joseph Fickle, served in Missouri. 

Tom Cochran, served during the war. 

Alvin Whitsith, served three months, went to the enemy. 

Arch Letton, served three months. 

Leander Maxwell, served three months. 

George Wilcochs, served during the war. 

Larence Wilcochs, served during the war. 

Thomas Wilcochs, served during the war. 

Dick Hainline, served three months. 



376 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNT Y. 

James Starkes, served during the war. 

Ben Adams, served two years. < 

Thomas Gibbs, served during the war. 

John Holman, served two years. 

James Robbert, served during the war. 

James Sanford, served six months. 

Roland Hughes, served during the war. 

Phelix Graves, served during the war. 

Thomas Tibbs, served three weeks, and then went to the enemy. 

CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS' RECORD. 

The great majority of these personal records of soldier life were made 
one at a time, from all parts of the county, through a period of four 
months; and it has been impossible to arrange them in systematic order 
by regiments and companies. We print each record just as it was fur- 
nished by the man himself or some friend for him. There were so many 
of "Shelby's Men" that we have kept them in a body together as well as 
we could; also Col. Gordon's cavalry; the rest had to be thrown together 
haphazard, in order as received. 

shelby's men. 

y. W. Bledsoe, Shelby's command, enlisted in 1863. Engaged in the 
battles of Mark's Mills, Camden, Little Rock, Westport, Newtonia, Ft. 
Scott, etc., of Price's last raid. Discharged 1865. 

B. Corder, Shelby's command, enlisted August, 1862, as sergeant, 
engaged in the battle of Coon's Creek, and in all the battles of the com- 
mand to the end of the war. Discharged in 1865. 

Bush Hinson, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in 1862. In battles 
of Carthage and Wilson's Creek, and was killed, August, 1862, near Cal- 
houn, in Henry county, Missouri, by federal soldiers stationed there. 

E. B. Starke, private ; enlisted in Shelby's command, 1864, and engaged 
in all the battles of Price's raid — Lexington, Westport, etc. Discharged 
in June, 1865. 

W. T. Starke, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in 1862. At Lex- 
ington, Pea Ridge, Wilson's Creek, Newtonia, and all the battles of the 
command. 

C. H. P. Catron, corporal, afterward lieutenant, Shelby's command; 
enlisted June. 1862. In the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Lexing- 
ton, Coon Creek, Springfield, Hartville, Cape Girardeau, Little Rock, 
etc., and in all the battles of Price's final raid. Discharged in 1865. 

C. W. Cove, corporal, Shelby's command; enlisted in August, 1862. 
In the battles of Coon Creek, Newtonia, Prairie Grove, etc. He was lost 
between Van Buren and Clarksville, Arkansas — supposed to have died of 
yellow fever. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 377 

Thomas McCormack, private in Shelby's command; enlisted in 1861. 
In battles of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Cape Girardeau, Lexington, etc. 
Wounded at Cape Girardeau. Discharged in 1863. 

B. F. Wood, second lieutenant, Shelby's command; enlisted in 1862. In 
battles of Rock Creek, Lexington, Springfield, Hartsville, Cape Girar- 
deau, Helena, Little Rock, Marshall, etc. Discharged in 1864. 

Geo. A. Campbell, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in August, 1862. 
Was in the battles of Columbus, Prairie Grove, Gaines' Landing, Osage, 
Mine Creek, and Newtonia, where he was wounded and captured, 1864; 
and discharged at close of the war. 

Sterling Powers, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in the fall of 1862. 
Battles: Ft. Scott, Newtonia, and all the battles of the Last Raid. Dis- 
charged in 1865. 

yames P. Proctor, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in 1862. Battles: 
Newtonia, Oak Grove, Cape Girardeau, etc. Was taken prisoner while 
sick, near Lexington, and confined sixteen months. Paid $100 to Gov. 
King for his release, as did others. 

yohn F. Eagan, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in 1862. Was in 
the battles of Lone Jack, Cane Hill, Little Rock, Prairie Grove, Cape 
Girardeau, Helena, Marshall, etc. Captured near Chapel Hill, but 
escaped. 

T. y. Wilkinson, captain, Shelby's command. In all of Shelby's bat- 
tles. Taken prisoner Monte Vail, but escaped soon after. 

yoe Hann, private, Shelby's command; enlisted in 1861. In the battles 
of Lone Jack, Newtonia, Springfield, and all the battles of the command. 
Discharged in 1865. 

Alex. Wilkinson, commissary sergeant, Shelby's command; enlisted 
in August, 1862. In all the battles of the command, except Helena and 
Cape Girardeau. Discharged in 1865. 

William T. Tracy, private; enlisted in 1862, in Gordon's regiment, com- 
pany G. Was in nearly all of Shelby's battles and fights, and once 
bruised by a spent ball, in Arkansas. Was captured at home, in the night, 
and shot early the next morning, by the soldiers, five steps off; but the 
heavy padding of his coat saved his life — was only wounded. Surren- 
dered in 1865. 

yohn Tyler, yr., private; enlised in 1862, in Trent's company, Elliott's 
regiment. Taken prisoner at home, in the fall of 1862; kept eight weeks, 
and returned home. 

H. T. Anderson, private; enlisted in 1861, in Capt. Collin's battery, 
under Shelby. Battles: Pea Ridge, Helena, Cape Girardeau, Prairie 
Grove, Newtonia, Newport, etc. Surrendered in 1865. 

David Alumbarg, private; enlisted in 1864, in company G, Gordon's 
regiment. In ten battles, and surrendered in 1865. 



378 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Edward W. Lewis, private, enlisted 1861. Took part in all the ope- 
rations of Shelby's brigade in Missouri and Arkansas. 

William H. Lewis, private, enlisted 1861. Was in most of Price's 
battles and those during Shelby's raid in 1863, and Prices raid in 1864, 
until his capture. He was taken prisoner at the house of Mr. Alferd 
Lewis, his father, in the fall of 1864, and died in December, 1864, from 
the measles. 

Thomas. Porter, enlisted in August, 1862, in Shelby's regiment, Elli- 
ott's company. Company E, Thorp's. Was discharged June 2, 1865. 
Was engaged in battles at Little Blue and West Port. Returned to this 
county after his discharge. 

Francis M. Ramey, private, Co. C, enlisted 1861, under Capt. Geo. 
P. Gordon. Fought at Carthage, Lexincton, Wilson's Creek, and Pea 
Ridge. He died during the battle at Pea Ridge from typhoid fever. 

yohn S. Percival, first lieutenant Co. C, Shelby's regiment; Capt. Geo. 
P. Gordon; enlisted Aug. 1862. Fought at Coon Creek, Newtonia, under 
Gen. Cooper; Prairie Grove, Springfield, Hartsville, Cape Girardeau, 
Helena, and Bayou Metre. He was killed at the battle of Bayou Metre, 
by the exploding of a shell, while commanding a company. 

Wm. Rome, private, enlisted 1861, in Capt. Joseph Barnett's com- 
pany, under Col. Vard Cockdel. Engaged in the battles of Lexington, 
Independence, Blue, West Port, and Newtonia; was with Gen. Price and 
Shelby through the war; surrendered personally at Houston, Texas, 1865. 

Hon. yames W. Harrison, first lieutenant, enlisted 1864, in Co. C, 
Hunter's regiment; also served in Gen. Jackson's regiment. Engaged in 
the battles of Independence, Blue, West Port, Dry wood and Newtonia; 
surrendered at Shreveport, being in charge of the regiment. 

yohn E. Corder, first lieutenant, enlisted in Co. C, Gordon's regi- 
ment, August 2, 1862, aad participated in the battles of Newtonia, Prairie 
Grove, Helena, Prairie de Ann, Little Rock, West Port, Marshall, Jenk- 
in's Ferry, and Shelby's raids. 

yames O. Hogan, private, enlisted 1861 in Shelbv's regiment. Dis- 
charged 1864; was in the battles from Lexington down. 

Maurice G. yacobs, private, enlisted August 15, 1862, in Shelby's 
command, and discharged June 2, 1865. Was quarter- master in Col. D. 
A. Williams' regiment, Shelby's division, Jackman's brigade. 

Dr. y. B. Wood, surgeon, enlisted 1861, as surgeon of Shelby's reg- 
iment. Engaged in the battles of Lexington, Newtonia, Prairie Grove, 
Springfield, Huntsville, Helena, Little Rock, Jenkins Ferry, and all the 
raids in Missouri. Was slightly wounded by a shell at Hollowood and 
taken prisoner; was discharged at Shreveport, June, 1865. 

Abner Ward, private, enlisted Aug. 1862, under Gen. Jo. Shelby, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 379 

Co. F, 1st regiment. In 1863, he left on account of sickness. Fought in 
first and second battles at Newtonia, Cape Girardeau, and Helena. 

Thos. M. Elsca, private, enlisted /1861, under Gen. Jo. O. Shelby. 
Fought at Lexington and Pea Ridge. Was taken prisoner by the rebels 
at the Cowskin Prairie, in 1863, and by the federals on the Ozark Prairie 
the same year. 

George Davis, private, enlisted 1862, in Co. A, Shelby's regiment; 
was in the battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded and died at Peach 
Orchard Gap, Ark. 

Preston Atlebery, enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, under Gen. Shelby. Was 
scarcely in service one year till he died at Batesville, Ark., Aug. 10, 1863. 

'Joseph W. Buttner, private, enlisted under Gen. Shelby, 1861, 
engaged in the battles of Lone Jack, Independence, Blue, West Port, 
Newtonia, Pine Bluffs; took the oath at Shreveport. 

J. L. Wiley, captain and major, enlisted 1861, in Shelby's brigade, 
engaged in the battles of Prairis Grove, Helena, Springfield, and Hoats- 
ville, was taken prisoner at Jacksonsport, Arkansas, escaped after three 
days imprisonment. 

Perry Cooper, private, enlisted 1861, in Collins' battery, Boomer's com- 
pany, Hoy's regiment, Shelby's command; discharged May 8, 1865. 
Engaged in the battles of Lone Jack, Helena, Cape Girardeau, Lexing- 
ton, Independance, Prairie Grove, Newtonia, and numerous skirmishes. 

Geo. P. Gordon, in 1861 was captain in the state guards, in 1862 in 
the confederate service, in 1863 he was promoted to the rank of major, at 
the suggestion of Shelby, by Gen. Hindman, and in 1865 was promoted to 
the rank of lieutenant colonel, by Shelby, as division commandant; was 
discharged from the state service in December, 1861. going into the con- 
federate service the August following. Fought at Carthage, Wilson's 
creek, Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Springfield, Hartsville, Cape Girardeau, 
Helena, Bayou Metre, Shelby's raid, Dardanells, Neosho, Greenfield, 
Warsaw, Tipton, Marshall, and to the Arkansas line, Price's raid, Lex- 
ington, Westport, Newtonia. He surrendered in June, 1865, Shelbv's 
division, to Gen. Frank Herron. 

Wm. W. Shroyer, private, enlisted 1861, in Percival's company, Shelby's 
brigade, was engaged in the battles of Carthage, Lexington, Prairie 
Grove, Springfield, and Hoatsville, was wounded January, 1862, at Harts- 
ville by a musket ball, which struck just above the knee. 

Lieut. Col. Benjamin F. Gordon, enlisted in the service in 1861, was 
lieutenant colonel of Shelby's regiment, afterwards colonel of the regiment, 
also commanded Shelby's brigade. Left the command at Texarkana, 
went to Old Mexico, in 1865, and returned in 1866. While in the con- 
federate army was in the battles of Carthage, Springfield, Wilson's creek, 
Pea Ridge, Cane Hill, Newtonia, Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Bavou 



380 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Metre, Hollman, Mark's Mill, Jenkins Ferry, Hartsville, and Price's raid 
to Westport. Was wounded at Wilson Creek. 

W. Boon, major, first lieutenant, company G., Col. Elliott's regiment, 
Missouri state guards, enlisted in June, 1861. In 1862 enlisted in com- 
pany I, Col. Shelby's regiment, and was orderly sergeant. In 1863 was 
quartermaster of Col. Elliott's regiment. Was engaged in battles at 
Coon Creek, Newtonian Hartsville, Springfield, Pine Bluff, Jenken's 
Ferry, Prairie du Anne, Duvall's Bluff, Clarendon, Helena, Cape Girar- 
deau, first battle at Lexington, Jefferson City, Boonville, Potosi, Ironton, 
Pilot Knob, Chalk Bluff, Marshall,' Sedalia, Independence, Blues, West 
Port, Mines Creek, Fayetteville, Cain Hill, Bayou Metre, Stony Point, 
Carthage, Old Jackson, Fredricktown, Farmington, Patterson, Mt. Elby, 
Mark's Mills. 

col. Gordon's regiment of Missouri cavalry. 

Dennis Payne, private, company C, 1862; fought in the battles of Coon 
Creek, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, 
Marshall, Helena, Hartsville, Batesville, Neosho, Duval's Bluff, Camden. 
Surrendered at Shreveport. 

"jf. y. Cooksey, private, 1864; fought at Lexington, Blues, Westport, 
Newtonia, Marias de Cygne. Never regularly discharged. 

Samuel Biggerstaff, private, company B, April 14, 1862. Fought at 
Newtonia, and other minor engagements. Taken prisoner at Fayetteville 
and held until close of war. Discharged in spring of 1865. 

Charles A. Graham, private Co. F, 1862. Battles of Cane Hill, 
Springfield, Hartsville, Prairie Grove, Cape Girardeau. Was wounded 
and captured in 1864, near Calhoun, Henry county. Was paroled. 

Wm. F Lay, private, Co. B, July 1862. Fought at Lexington, 
Coon Creek, Prairie de Anne, Mulberry. Was captured twice; first at 
Elm Springs, in Sept. 1862; second at Prairie de Anne. Was paroled, 
July 1864. 

y. G. Webb, private, Co. C, Aug. 1862. Fought at Prairie Grove, 
Springfield, Cane Hill, Hartsville. Taken prisoner at Cape Girardeau, 
and paroled, July 3, 1863. 

H. L. Corbin, private, Co. C, enlisted Oct. 1864. Fought at Westport, 
Cane Hill. Discharged, June 15, 1865. 

B. F Peacock, private, Co. F, enlisted, June 1862. Fought at the bat- 
tle of Lexington. Discharged, Sept. 1862. 

W. H.Dysart, private, Co. B, enlisted Aug. 1862. Fought in all of the 
battles in which his command was engaged. Discharged in July, 1865. 

N. T. Fox, private, Co. B, enlisted Sept. 18, 1862. Fought at New- 
tonia and several minor engagements. Was wounded at Newtonia, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 381 

through the thigh. Captured, Oct. 18, 1862, and exchanged in June 1863. 
Again captured and paroled in March, 1864. 

G. W. Garr, private, Co. B, enlisted July, 1862. In battles of Carth- 
age, Little Rock, Prairie Grove, Helena and other skirmishes. Was 
wounded at Helena, in the shoulder; at Clarindon, through the right arm; 
and at Westport. Was discharged July, 1865. 

W. W. Doak, private, Co. A, enlisted, Aug., 1862. Fought at Lexing- 
ton, Coon Creek, Edwina, Hartsville, Prairie Grove, and other skirmishes. 
Was taken prisoner in Ozark county Mo., in 1863, and held until 1865. 
Discharged in May, 1865. 

B. F. Corbin, private, Co. C, enlisted, Aug. 18,1862. Fought at Lex- 
ington, Springfield, Prairie Grove, Hartsville, Helena, Pine Bluffs, Marks 
Mills, Cape Girardeau, Westport. Discharged, June 15, 1865. 

J. A. yeffries, private, Co. A, enlisted, May, 1861. Fought at Car- 
thage, Springfield, Newtonia, Marks Mills, Helena, Prairie de Anne, 
Little Rock, and others. Discharged, April 1865. 

Robert C. Carter, private, enlisted, Aug. 1862. Fought at Coon Creek, 
Newtonia, Helena and others Discharged, June, 1865. 

y. C. Butler, first lieutenant, Co. A, enlisted, spring of 1861. Fought 
at Lexington, Springfield, Prairie Grove, Cowskin Prairie, Shreveport, 
Helena, Corinth, Ballstown and others. Discharged, May, 1865. 

yohn E. McDougall, lieutenant Co. B, enlisted, 1861. Fought at 
Lexington, Carthage, Springfield, Pea Ridge, and all other engagements 
participated in by his company. Discharged in spring of 1865. Was in 
Mexican war, under Doniphan. 

y. £>. Plattenburg, private, Co. B, enlisted, 1861. Fought at Lexing- 
ton, Newtonia, Springfield, Oak Grove, Hartsville, Cape Girardeau, Hel- 
ena, Little Rock. Discharged in Spring of 1865. 

R. C. Allison, private, Co. B, enlisted, Oct. 19, 1864. Fought at Lex- 
ington, Westport. Discharged in June, 1865. 

Elias Afters, Co. B. enlisted, Oct., 1864. Fought at Independence, 
Westport, Carthage and others. Discharged, June 13, 1865. 

Ayers C. M. Bird, private, 8th Missouri Infantry, 1864; discharged 
1S65. 

D. L. Bird, private, Gordon's regiment, 1861; was with the com- 
mand through the war; discharged 1865. 

Leven H. Merrill, private; enlisted 1861 in Gordon's regiment; killed 
by the mountain boomers, in the summer of 1864, near Batesville, Ark. 

I. N. Shelley, private, company H, enlisted June 17, 1861, in Gor- 
don's regiment; fought at Lexington, Springfield, Carthage, Pea Ridge, 
and all other engagements of the regiment; was taken prisoner in Bates 

L 



382 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

county; taken to Johnstown, paroled, came home, was exchanged, enlisted 
again. 

J. C. Wood, private company G, January, 1862; discharged May, 
1865. Fought at Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Springfield, Marks Mills, 
Lexington, Helena, Cape Girardeau, Newtonia and numerous other 
engagements. 

W. S. Davis, private company B, August, 1862; fought at Prairie 
Grove, Helena and numerous skirmishes. 

L. E. White, private company B; enlisted August, 1862, discharged 
in March, 1863; fought at Prairie Grove, Springfield, Hartsville and in 
various skirmishes. 

Isaac Neal, private company B; enlisted August, 1861, and dis- 
charged Tune, 1865; fought in the battles of Coon Creek, and on Price's 
raid. 

Dr. W. Webb, surgeon; enlisted August, 1862, discharged June, 
1865; was at the battles of Helena, Girardeau, Little Rock, and other 
engagements on Price's raid. 

Lucien M. Majors, captain company E, 1861, Col. Shelby's regi- 
ment; company L, August 18, 1862, Col. Elliott's regiment; then in 
company H, in 1864. Fought in the battles of Lexington, Springfield, 
ISTewtonia, Cane Hill, Coon Creek, Hartsville, Cape Girardeau, Jenkins' 
Ferry, Prairie Grove, Prairie De Ann, Duvalls Bluff, Pilot Knob, Ironton, 
Independence, Blues, Westport, Dry wood, and 2d Newtonia. At the bat- 
tle of Newtonia he was shot in the left lung, and left on the battlefield, 
and was captured, and imprisoned at St. Louis. 

Qregpn Roberts, private, enlisted in company G, 12th Missouri Cav- 
alrv, Col. Hunter, October, 1861; was at the battles of Independence, 
Blues, Kansas City, Westport, Newtonia, and at Shreveport surrendered 
personally. 

col. Elliott's regiment Missouri cavalry. 

S. B. Whiting, captain company C; enlisted 1861; fought at Car- 
thage, Wilson Creek, Dry wood, Lexington, Pea Ridge and others; was 
taken prisoner in 1862, and held at Leavenworth one year; discharged in 
1865. 

P. W. Gum, orderly sergeant company I; enlisted in 1861; trans- 
ferred to John'B. Clarke's regiment in 1862; was at Lexington, "Newto- 
nia, Prairie Grove, Jefferson City, Westport, Mine Creek; mustered out 
at Shreveport, 1865; taken prisoner at Helena, July 21, 1864; held until 
May, 1865. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Jas. K. Norfeet, private, enlisted August, 1862 First Missouri brigade 
infantry. Battles — Drywood, Fort Scott, Springfield, Helena, Cane Hill, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 383 

and Pleasant Hill, where he was captured, and in escaping was wounded 
and disabled for a year. 

E . T. Stark, major, enlisted in 1861 in Taylor's Co. M. S. G.,; was at 
the battles of Lexington, Springfield, Iuka, Cornith, Vicksburg, and Jack- 
son; Discharged at Vicksburg. 

Wash. Bardsley, sergeant, enlisted in 1861 in M. S. G., and in March 
1862, in Company A, Fifth Missouri volunteers, C. S. A.; was in the bat- 
tles Springfield, Oak Hill, Iuka, Baker's Creek, Pt. Gibson, and Vicks- 
burg. Wounded slightly several times and captured at Vicksburg and 
exchanged January 1864, re-enlisted, and surrendered in 1865. 

Charles R. Anderson, commissary department, enlisted in 1861 in M. S. 
G., under Gen. Green; was in the battles Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Lex- 
ington, Corinth, Baker's Creek, Big Black, and Iuka. Surrendered in 
1865. 

A. S. Gum, lieutenant, enlisted August, 1861, in M. S. G.; was at bat- 
tles of Wilson's Creek, Lexington. Captured May, 1862. 

Thomas A. Webb, captain, enlisted in June 1861, in M. S. G. 

Noah P. Adams, private, enlisted in August 1861, in M. S. G., and in 
1862 in Company E, Elliot's battalion; in the battles of Dry wood, Lex- 
ington, Lone Jack, Lexington again, and Westport. Captured in 1864 
and imprisoned at Rock Island until the war closed. 

yohn Perry, sergeant, enlisted in 1861 in M. S. G. ; at the battles of 
Carthage and Wilson's Creek. Taken prisoner at Lexington in March, 
1862, sent to St. Louis and Alton, and exchanged at Vicksburg Septem- 
ber, 1862, 

y. B. Carmichacl, corporal, enlisted in 1861, in Keith's company Ellliot's 
regiment M. S. G; in the battles of Lexington, Wilson's Creek, Lone 
Jack, etc. Captured in March, 1863, and kept in Alton three months, 
and afterwards arrested at home and held until 1864. 

y. A. y. McCauley, private, enlisted in August, 1862, in Second regi- 
ment Missouri cavalry; in the battles of Lone Jack, Prairie Grove, Sec- 
ond Springfield, and many skirmishes, etc. Surrendered in 1865. 

yohn S. Calloway, second sergeant, enlisted July 3, 1861, in Company 
I, Sixteenth regiment Missouri infantry of Price's division ; discharged at 
Shreveport, Louisiana, January 10, 1865; engaged in the battles of Car- 
thage, Oak Hill, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Prairie Grove, Pleasant Hill, Mans- 
field, Jenkins' Ferry, Helena, Lexington, and Dry wood. Was wounded 
at Pleasant Hill in 1863, by a piece of shell. 

Captain W. A. Redd, edjutant, enlisted in April, 1861, at Lexington 
in the First Missouri cavalry of State guards as first lieutenant of company 
B, afterwards in the Third Missouri cavalry Gordon's regiment; engaged 
in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Cross Hollow, Prairie, 
Marksville, Springfield, and Jenkins Ferry; was taken prisoner near Fay- 



384 HISTOR/ OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

etteville, Arkansas, and imprisoned at Alton, and exchanged in 1862. 
Captured on Shelby's raid, taken to Johnson Island, and held thirteen 
months, when the war closed. 

James Rollins, private, enlisted in 1861 in Taylor's company, Sixth Mis- 
souri regiment, and in Gordon's company, Grove's regiment; engaged in 
the battles of Carthage, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, Jackson, 
Yazoo City, Thompson Station, and through the Georgia campaign and 
Forest's engagement with Smith in Alabama and Mississippi. 

H. C. Francisco, private, enlisted Feb. 11, 1863, in Clark's battery 
Vandorn's division; engaged in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, 
Vicksburg Yazoo City, Thompson Station, with the Georgia campaign, 
and Forest's fight with Smith in Alabama and Mississippi. 

Horace J. Galbraith, captain and quarter-master, enlisted in 1862 in G. 
B. Gordon's company, Gordon's regiment; was in the fights of Newtonia, 
Cape Girardeau, Helena, Bayou Metre, and in Price's raids. 

"John Fitz^patrick, private, enlisted in October, 1864, in Company C, 
Gordon's regiment; was engaged in the battles of Lexington, West Port, 
and Newtonia. Discharged at Shreveport June 1865. 

Uriah Hawkins, private, enlisted August 2, 1862, in Company C, Gor- 
don's regiment, Shelby's brigade; engaged in the battles of Newtonia, 
Neosho, Coon Creek, and Cane Hill; after the last named battle was dis- 
charged and was living in the southern States, but suddenly disappeared 
and has never since been heard of. 

Hugh Gautier, private, enlisted in Gen. Hurt's State guard in 1861 ; was 
at the battle of Springfield; killed by the federal soldiers in the yearl863. 

Samuel J. Andrews, captain; enlisted in Co. B. 2d N. C. Cav. May, 
1861; engaged in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancelorsville, Fleet- 
wood or Brandy Station, where Jan. 9, 1873, he lost his right leg. 

Dr. S fencer W. Brown, surgeon of Shelby's regiment, Bledsoe battery; 
engaged in the battles of Carthage, Lexington, Prairie Grove, Indepen- 
dence, Little Rock, Marshall, and all of Shelby's raids ; sent to prison by 
false charges of being colonel of the regiment from Marshall, Mo., and 
was confined for three months in St. Louis bastile. 

John W. Lewis, private; enlisted May, 1861, in Co. C, Gordon's regi- 
ment; engaged in the battles of Blue Mills, Carthage, Wilson Creek, 
Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Helena, Marshall, Cape Girardeau, Spring- 
field, Marshfield, Jenkins Ferry and Hartsville; wounded Feb. 6, 1863, 
near Pine Bluffs by a pistol shot and captured by Grove Young, of a 
Missouri regiment of federals; was confined in Little Rock, Ark.; when 
being transferred to Rock Island he made his escape by jumping from the 
train. 

Ed. W. Lewis, private; enlisted 1862 in Co. A, Capt. Percival's com- 
pany, Gordon's regiment; engaged in the battles of 2d Springfield, Harts- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 385 

ville, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill and Neosho; went with a party on a raid 
near Cape Girardeau and never returned ; supposed to have been killed 
two days before the fight of Cape Girardeau. 

W. D. Lewe, corporal; enlisted in the spring of 1861 in Co. A, Capt. 
Percival, Elliott's regiment of state guards; served one year, then enlisted 
in Groves' regiment in the regular service; was in the fights of Carthage, 
Wilson Creek, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Iuka, Port Gibson and Marshall; 
taken prisoner at Port Gibson May, 1863, was taken to Alton, remained 
one month and was then exchanged. 

H. C. Corder, private; enlisted in 1861 in Co. D, Capt. Shendles, Gor- 
don's regiment; engaged in the battles of Cape Girardeau, Little Rock, 
Big Blue, Independence, Shelby's last raid and West Port; was discharged 
in Texas in June, 1865. 

T. A. Groves, private; enlisted in Co. A, 1st Regt., Col. Gates, Febru- 
ary, 1862, and engaged in the battles of Prairie Grove, Corinth, Iuka, Big 
Blue and Vicksburg; received two slight wounds and was taken prisoner 
at Vicksburg; was discharged at Shreveport in 1865. 

Capt. Edward F. Nicholson enlisted in the confederate army in 1863 in 
Co. E as its captain, under Col. Rathburn, Shelby's division, and engaged 
in the battles of Independence, West Port, Newtonia, Carthage, Fayette- 
ville, and numerous skirmishes during the war, and left the army at the 
grand surrender in 1865. 

W. H. Bellamy, corporal; enlisted May, 1861, in Percival's company, 
Groves' regiment, Rain's division; engaged in the battles of Carthage, 
Wilson's Creek, Newlonia, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Helena, Cape Gir- 
rardeau, Little Rock and Springfield; was wounded by a ball in the leg 
at Marshall, Mo.; returned from the service in 1863; taken .prisoner in 
Carroll county and carried to Macon; kept in prison one month, and then 
took the oath of loyalty. 

Caft. yohn f. Gordon enlisted in February, 1862, in CockrelPs brig- 
ade, Col. Elisha Gates, which was transferred at the same time to the east 
Mississippi department; was in all the battles fought by Price east of the 
Mississippi, Corinth and Baker's Creek; was wounded at the battle of 
Baker's Creek, Miss., and captured; taken to Ft. Delaware, where he died 
from pneumonia in 1864. 

G. W. Marquis, private; under the command of Gens. Price and 
McCullough, Co. G; enlisted May 17, 1861; fought at Wilson's Creek, 
Elkhorn, Corinth, and various other engagements of importance; was 
wounded at Collierviile, was shot in the right side, the ball striking a rib 
and glancing around and coming out on the left side; was taken prisoner 
at Moscow, Tenn., and brought to Alton, 111., and kept ten months. 

y. O. Lockhart, first lieutenant; Gens. Homes, Price, etc., RufFner's 
battery; enlisted in state guards in the summer of 1861; fought at Lex- 



386 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ington, Prairie Grove, Jenkins Ferry, and a number of skirmishes, Little 
Rock, etc.; was wounded at Jenkins Ferry in the arm, and was unfit for 
service about two months, and is still somewhat disabled from the wound; 
was captured at the same time, but made his escape the next day. Dis- 
charged in May, 1865. 

A.Edgar Asbury, captain, enlisted May, 1861, aide decamp to Brig 
Gen. J. H. McBride, 11 months. Then Capt. Cornell's Missouri Cavalry, 
afterwards assigned to clothing bureau, Texas. Fought at Oak Hills, 
Lexington, Elk Horn, Pea Ridge, and several minor ones. Was in the 
fight near Camden or Albany, Mo., in which Bill Anderson was killed, 
commanding confederate recruits. Taken prisoner on the raid to Cape 
Girardeau, and was held prisoner of war thirteen months at Springfield, 
St. Louis, Fortress Monroe, Fort Delaware, Johnson's Island, and Point 
Lookout. Discharged June, 1865. 

Joseph B. Major, private, in 1861, enlisted in State Guards, was 
assistant wagon boss, Gen. Clark's division. Re-enlisted in '1861, com- 
pany F, Gen. Shelby's regiment. Parolled at Austin, 1865. Fought at 
Carthage, first and second battles at Springfield, Dry wood; first and 
second at Lexington, Newtonia; first and second, Hortsville, Cape Gir- 
ardeau, Old Jackson, Little Rock, Duval's Bluff, Sursey, Coon Creek, 
Cain Hill, Brownsville, Stony Point, Clarendon, Pilot Knob, Patterson, 
Jefferson City, Boonville, Independence, Blues, West Port, and numerous 
others. 



FEDERAL SOLDIERS' RECORD. 
pirner's battery. 

This was the Lexington Home Guard Battery, in charge of Capt. C. 
M. Pirner, and in what was then called the 14th Missouri Volunteers, 
under Col. White. The whole organization was broken up by the result 
of the battle of Lexington, and was never re-organized. The battery 
members were: C. M. Pirner, commanding; Henry Nagel, Gustavus Pir- 
ner, John Quandt, Clemens Ruesterer, Charles Probst, and Jerry Leame. 
These last two have since died. There were two other members, but 
their names could not be obtained. All of them were wounded but two, 
Nagel and Ruesterer. They were all taken prisoners and released on 
parol by Gen. Price, but they were not exchanged and released from their 
parole until some time in 1864. Nevertheless, Gus Pirner and Charley 
Probst went and enlisted in another battery; Probst died in Arkansas, 
probably from after effects of his wounds received in the Lexington battle; 
Gus Pirner lived through, and was finally in Gen. Sherman's army. (See 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 387 

underhead of "Battle Items," for armament of this battery.) They had 
two six-pounder cannon, and two six-inch mortars; these latter they buried 
before the surrender, but the confederates found them. Oue of these mor- 
tars was afterwards mounted on an ox-cart and used by " Dick Collins, 
Steve Fell, Jim Rudd, Will Fell, Jim Evans, and four or five others," 
under Joe Shelby, in a fight with Col. Merrill's Federal cavalry, at 
Waverly. " While firing the seventh shell, it exploded in the gun, and 
mortar and ox-cart went up together." So says Edward's history, pp. 47, 
48. What became of the rest of Pirner's guns is not known. 

The following are the names of the men from Lafayette county, who 
were with Capt. F. R. Neet, under Col. White at the battle of Lexihgton: 
Capt. F. R. Neet, 1st Lieutenant; Neal Bohanan, 2d Lieutenant; C. M. 
Neet, (wounded in the fight,) Michael Myers, John Mullens, Michael 
Lahey, and Quinn Morton. The latter was acting adjutant of Col. White's 
regiment. 

CAPT. F. R. NEET'S COMPANY F, 1()TH REGIMENT CAVALRY, MISSOURI 

VOLUNTEERS. 

The following is a record of those men in Capt. (afterwards Major) 
Neet's company, who were from Lafayette county: 

John Abbott, enlisted Oct. 2, 1863. 

John Barry, enlisted Aug. 22, 1862. 

Michael Barry, enlisted Aug. 22, 1862. 

Patrick Ballard, sergeant, afterwards sergeant-major; enlisted Aug. 15, 
1862. 

George Boatman, enlisted July 30, 1862; died at Corinth, 1863. 

David H. Barnett, enlisted Aug. 15, 1862. 

Davis Campbell, enlisted Aug. 22, 1862. 

Lee A. Claughten, enlisted Aug. 10, 1862. 

John Clary, enlisted Aug. 22, 1 862 ; transfered to the navy from hos- 
pital Dec. 15, 1862. 

James Clark, enlisted August 24, 1862; died June 22, 1863, at Corinth, 
Miss. 

Henry V. Crowder, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

William Duncan, enlisted August 13, 1862. 

Maurice Divine, enlisted July 18, 1862. 

James Devany; enlisted Aug. 20, 1862. 

Philip Deets, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

Michael Dolan, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

Luke Dwyre. enlisted August 12, 1862. 

William P. Guard, first sergeant, enlisted August 13, 1862. 

Beauford P. Good, corporal, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

Wm. Funk, corporal, enlisted August 15, 1862. 



388 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

William Evens, enlisted August 21, 1862. 

Levi Hall, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

James Hall, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

John Harmon, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

Joseph Jones, enlisted August 12, 1862. 

Joseph Kestersen, enlisted August 9, 1862; transfered May 1, 1863 to 
veteran reserve corps. 

Thomas Kennard, enlisted August 13, 1862. 

Zenos Kirkpatrick, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

George King, sergeant, enlisted August 7, 1862. 

Jacgb Longbrake, enlisted August 22, 1862; killed by guerrillas while 
home on sick furlough. 

Cornelius McCauliff, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

James Murphy, enlisted August 12, 1862. 

Patrick McCormack, enlisted August 13, 1862; died Dec. 18, 1865. 

Joseph McGunnigle, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

James McGarvan, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

Patrick McGuire, enlisted August 22, 1862; discharged Sept. 13, 1863. 

Peter McEntyre, enlisted Aug. 15, 1862; transferred to veteran reserve 
corps. 

Joseph McKean, enlisted August 13, 1862; died Dec. 29, 1863, from an 
accidental shot at Clear Creek, Miss. 

Algernal S. McKean, enlisted July 27, 1862. 

Jesse S. McGraw, enlisted July 22, 1862; discharged Jan. 30, 1863, on 
surgeon's certificate. 

John Nichols, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

Peter Noisly, enlisted August 24, 1862. 

James Reiley, enlisted August 14, 1862; drowned on the steamer B. M. 
Runyan, which sunk July 21, 1864. 

James Perrine, sergeant, enlisted Aug. 22, 1862. 

Clem Perrine, enlisted August 22, 1 862. 

Asa Smith, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

Mark Stewart, enlisted July 30, 1862. 

John Senter, sergeant, enlisted August 9, 1862. 

George Schofield, enlisted August 15, 1862. 

John Tool, enlisted August 13, 1862. 

James Thompson, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

Hiram Ward, enlisted August 22, 1862. 

William H. Wheeler, enlisted August 15, 1862; died at Corinth, Miss. 

Alexander Ward, enlisted August 24, 1862. 

Royle Willis, sergeant, enlisted August 13, 1862. 

Thomas Wernway, sergeant, enlisted August 11, 1862. 

Christian Wiedman, enlisted August 9, 1862. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 389 

The muster and pay-roll of company A, of the 7th regiment, enrolled 
Missouri militia, from August 4, 1862, to Dec. 10, 1862, shows the follow- 
ing list of officers and privates then in the government service: 

OFFICERS. 

Selathial H. Taggart, Captain; Elisha Still well, 1st Lieutenant; Joab 
Worthington, Second Lieutenant. 

Sergeants. — Oscar V. Perdeau, 1st.; Wm. Murphy, 3rd.;Wm. Sanders, 
4th; John P. Meyer, 5th; James J. Perdeau, 6th. 

Corporals. — John R. Smelsor, 2nd; F. W. Stoosburg, 3rd; James B. 
Johnson, 4th; James H. Hickman, 7th; Uriel Ferrel, 8th. 

PRIVATES. 

Allison Bodenhamer, Henry Brackman, Thomas Boyle, Henry H. 
Brown, Charles B. Cecil, Wm. C. Cole, Wm. Cain, James M. Chancy, 
Jesse Davis, Albert Farrel, M. P. Finch, A. L. Graves, Alfred Hickman, 
Wm. Hickman, Patrick Hughes, George Helm, Wm. Jones, Enoch John- 
son, Harmon Kingsbury, Wm. Lake, Samuel H. Ledford, Wm. H. Mul- 
key, Benj. L. Pointer, Gilbert Pointer, Wm. Payne, Peter H. Petering, 
Wm. Petering, John B. Payne, Wm. Pardeau, Wm. Poole, Wm. Simp- 
son, Banes C. Shelton, Jesse R. Taggart, Henry Uphouse, Peter Uphouse, 
Abraham Vanmeter, David Worthington, George W. Williams, Wm. 
Walkenhaust, Andrew J. Williams, Benjamin Williams, Travis Williams, 
N. W. Alkire. 

OFFICERS DISCHARGED. 

Mordecai M. Gladdish, 1st lieut. ; James E. Gladdish, 2d sergeant; 
James Poole, 1st corporal; F. W. Stoosberg, 3d corporal; Beverly Whit- 
worth, 5th corporal; P. Y. Duke, 6th corporal. 

PRIVATES DISCHARGED.* 

Harmon Brand, Henry Brand, Joseph Cretzmeyer, Bluford Gowens, 
Thomas B. Hantes, Charles Jimes, John B. Jones, August Kreissee, Mil- 
ton, R. Lillard, Richmond Lillard, Isaac Maben, Wm. Meyer, Johnson 
Mulkey, Fletcher Patrick, Wm. Sample, Benj. Smelsor, Henry W. Free- 
man, David Ward, Joshua Ward. 

KILLED. 

Caleb W. Cole, private; drowned in the Missouri, August 15, 1862. 
Wm. Haggarty, private; killed at Wellington, by Bushwhackers. 
James L. Pointer, private; killed at Wellington, by bushwhackers. 
John H. Williams, private; killed at Wellington, by bushwhackers. 



*Honorably discharged — some because they had enlisted in the regular service; some 
by reason of wounds or other disability, and some because they had been taken prisoner 
and paroled. 



390 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

COMPANY C. 

Officers. — C H. Ehlers, captain; J. W. Pauling, 1st lieutenant; August 
BrockhofF, 2d lieutenant. 

Sergeants. — Henry Miller, orderly; Wm. Oelschleger, 2d; Henry 
Bodenstale, 3d. 

Corporals. — Peter Meyer, H. C. Meyer, Henry Holteamp, Henry 
Bredshoef. 

PRIVATES. 

Harmon Ablewell, J. B. Chaney, Henry Daukenbrink, Fred Dauken- 
brink, Hereman Dittmen, Henry Diers, Fred Duensing, Fritz Evarts, B. 
K. Irwin, Adolph Frerking, Wm. Hermbrock, Joseph Hartman, Claus 
Henning, Henry Hereman, Fritz Haseman, Henry Koopman, Peter Kron- 
slein, J. D. Kuster, Henry Kuhlman, Chris Meyer, Henry Meine, Wm. 
Nolte, F. A. Oelschleger, Philip Pinkepank, Henry Steinkosler, Wm. 
Schlue, John Schultz, Fritz Shulte, Henry Scharnhorst, Julius Vogt, 
C. H. Wahrenbroeck, John Wellner, John Wolters. 

OFFICERS DISCHARGED.* 

Wm. Ehlers, sergeant; Wm. Fulker, corporal. 

PRIVATES DISCHARGED.* 

Lewis Burfine, E. F. Dorsey, John Eckhoff, O. G. Freerking, John 
Fuering, Henry Gisselman, Henry Hemme, Henry Sohman, August 
Myer, Henry Meinke, Herrman Petering, Jacob Piper, Fritz Shelp, Lewis 
Stahl. Henry Westerhouse. 

KILLED. 

Henry Steinbrink, sergeant; killed at Wellington, while scouting. 

COMPANY D. 

Officers. — John F. Ennberg, Captain ; Zenophon Ryland, First Lieuten- 
ant; E. C. Holmes, Second Lieutenant. 

Sergeants. — Wm. C.Long, 1st; Thomas Adamson, 2d; Adam Walk, 
3d; Robert McFarland, 4th; Edward W. Carpenter, 5th; John W. 
Yeiler, 6th. 

Corporals. — Simeon B. Ryland, 1st; James H. Gaston, 2d; Christian 
Schafermeyer, 3d; Richard B. Vaughan, 4th; James McCormack, 5th; 
Andrew P. Benson, 6th; Lewis Schneider, 7th; John Kreihn, 8th. 

Privates. — James W. Atkinson, Robert W. Butler, John E. Bascom, 
Chas. S. Brandon, Joseph T. Chaney, Peter Campbell, Michael Dolde, 
H. K. Davis, Charles T. Dunn, William Etherton, Herman Ellis, John M. 
Fleming, Peter Fulkerson, Frederick Gase, Radford Hill, Robert M. Hart, 
Geo. Howard, Braxton D. Homer,Joel Hart, John P. Herr, Geo. W. Helm, 

♦Honorably discharged — some because they had enlisted in ihe regular service; some by 
reason of wounds or other disability, and some because they had been taken prisoner Dy the 
cenfederates and paroled. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 391 

Thos. Harney, James Jones, Miron Jackson, William Kenny, David Kirk- 
patrick, Tigney Lasaski, Frederick Miller, Henry McCoskey, John F. 
Neill, John F. Noner, Benj. Neville, Frank Ntville, Henry CEchlazger, 
Andrew Peterson, Thos. Perry, Robert Puckett, Mathew Raymond, 
Chas. Roberts, Leonard Schetzill, Frank Sheets, Ballaser Studley, Erastus 
Season, Wm. H. Smith, Samuel VanHock, Joel E. Wiles, John M. Wiles, 
Wm. C. Wallace, Frederick Winkler, Henry White, Henrv Wilkening, 
Edwin Yeiler, Geo. Yeiler, B. B. Yound. 

Privates Discharged '.* —John Meyerer, Frank Bokary, Chas. Kresdorn, 
Alexander Mott, C. A. McClure, Rudolph Nicholas, Adam Ripple, Henry 
Hinkle, Conrad Fisher, Sanford C. Stivers, Joseph Eagle, John Kirkpat- 
rick. 

The following privates were killed while scouting near Greenton, Aug. 
28, 1862: 

Evans P. Phillips, William Iddings, David W. King, Charles F. Meyers. 

Capt. Henry Neill, formerly in command of this company, was pro- 
moted to the Colonelcy of the 71st Regt. E. M. M., Aug. 20, 1862. 

■Deserted. — Rudolf Housmer and Wesley Keefer. 

COMPANY I. 

Officers. — G. W. Sumner, Captain; Mathias Reed, First Lieutenant; 
Robert Taylor, Second Lieutenant. 

Sergeants. — Milton Smith, 1st; Isaac Sumners, 2nd; G. S. Kesterson, 
3rd; James Hutchinson, 5th. 

Corporals. — W. T. Worley, 1st; S. P. Courtney, 2nd; Robert Buch- 
anan, 3rd; James Star, 5th; J. H. Hitchings, 7th. 

Privates. — James Buchanan, Caleb Cantrell, James H. Crews, J. W. 
Casper, W. B. Cobb, Edward Evans, John Goodrich, R. A. Hampton, 
Hugh Johnson, A. G. Johnson, David McClure, James McClure, W. W. 
Mulinix, T. J. Powell, Joseph Robinet, P. M. Star, William Star, George 
Sumerville, Peter Sanders, William Sabins, Willy Stephens, E. M. Wag- 
ner, Alvin Whitsitt, B. F. Whitsitt, Mathew Wilson, J. L. Anderson, R. 
T. Hunter. 

Officers Discharged^— Y. E. Hammond, 4th Sergt.; J. M. Mahr, 4th 
Corp'l; C. G. Gaston, 6th Corp'l; F. W. Nance, 8th Corp'l. 

Privates Discharged.^ — Heny Anderson, Simpson Ashcraft, Isaac Al- 
umbaugh, J.J. Barker, I. K. Barker, William Barker, N. W. Bullard, Jas. 
Crews, W. H. Crews, Benjamin Crews, S. M. Casper, John W. Delaney, 
Samuel Davidson, William Dutton, B. P. Davidson, N. R. Edelin, George 

♦Honorably discharged — Some because they had enlisted in the regular service; some 
because of wounds or other disability : and some because they had been taken prisoners 
by the Confederates and paroled. 

fHonorably discharg: d — either on acccount of having enlisted in the regular service; 
because of wounds or other disability; or because of having been taken prisoner by Con- 
federates and paroled. 



392 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

W. Hulse, J. E. Hutchinson, Daniel Hamilton, Jacob Howser, John Ham- 
lin, W. H. Kesterson, L. D. Kesterson, William King, Wm. Lale, Robert 
Mathews, Henry McElwain, W. E. Roberts, G. H. Smith, G. K. Smith, 
W. A. Snodgriss, Josiah Sims, Charles Triplett, J. H. Whitsitt, Stephen 
W. Barker. 

Deserted. — S. A. Barker, O. D. Hazard. 

Died or Killed in Action. — J. W. Barker, died of smallpox, Dec. 21, 
1862; Cornelius Summers, killed in action at Wellington; Joseph Whit- 
sitt, killed in action in Saline county, Oct. 11, 1862. 

COL. NEILL's REGIMENT ENROLLED MISSOURI MILITIA. 

James J. Perdue, enlisted 1862, in Capt. Taggart's company, and 
remained in the service six months. 

Charles Bergman, private; enlisted 1861, in Capt. Brune's company. 
He was sickly most of the time, and was discharged after three months. 

Frederick Meyer, private; enlisted 1862, in Capt. Brune's company. 
Was discharged in 1863, and afterwards, while belonging to the home 
guards was killed by the bushwhackers in 1864, in command of Captains 
Todd and Pool. 

John B. Jones. In 1862 he enlisted in company B, enrolled militia, Col. 
NeilPs regiment. In 1»64 enlisted in company E, 45th Missouri volunteer 
infantry. Was engaged in a battle at Jefferson City. Served in the 
enrolled militia four months, and in 1863 was called out again. In 1862 
was wounded slightly in the left wrist, but not seriously. 

Oscar V. Perdue, enlisted first in 1862 in the enrolled militia, Capt. 
Taggart's company, Col. Neill's regiment, and in 1864 enlisted in com- 
pany D, 45th Missouri volunteer infantry. Was discharged in 1865. 
Was corporal of company D and remained six months in the enrolled 
militia, and was called out again in 1863. 

William H. Perdue, enlisted October, 1862 in the enrolled militia, 
Capt. Taggart's company, Col. Neill's regiment. In August, 1864, 
enlisted in company D, 45th Missouri volunteer infantry and ex-Col. Switz- 
ler. Was discharged in 1865. Private, and was engaged in a battle at 
Jefferson City. 

E. M. Waggoner, private; 'enlisted 1862, 71st regiment, E. M. M., 
company F, Col. Neal. Discharged in 1863. 

August Brockman, corporal; was enlisted in company D under Col. 
Neill; was in the fight with bushwhackers at Wellington; served only 
two months actively. 

Henry Deke, sergeant, enlisted 1861 in Capt. Brune's company and 
in Col. Neill's regiment; served about four months. 

George Brockman, private; enlisted 1864 in company D under Col. 
Neill; was killed at Wellington by the bushwhackers. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 393 

C. H. Uphause, private, enlisted 1862, in Capt. Taggart's company 
under Col. Neill. 

J. R. Taggart, private, enlisted in Capt. Taggart's company, Col 
Neill's regiment, afterwards in Capt. Sumner's company, same regiment, 
in 1S63. Served twelve months and was cook for the company. 

Jacob Worthington, enlisted in the Federal army m July, 1862, in 
Capt. Taggart's company in the enrolled militia under Col. Neill and was 
2d lieutenant. Was in the fight with Pool and Anderson at Wellington. 

Uriah Farrell, private, enlisted in Capt. Taggart's company of enrolled 
militia in 1862 under Col. Neill. 

P. Whit worth, private, enlisted in 1862 in Capt. Taggart's company 
under Col. Neill. 

Thomas Welsh, 2d sergeant, enlisted 1861, in Capt. Duncan's company 
Col. (Neill's regiment, afterwards in Capt. S. D. Foulk's companv, and 
served as orderly sergeant and was discharged in 1864. 

W. A. D. Myer, private, enlisted in 1862 in Capt. Taggart's company 
under CoLNeill. Served three months. 

George K. Smith, private, enlisted in the Federal army in Capt. Sum- 
ner's company of enrolled militia under Col. Neill; was engaged in several 
bushwhacking skirmishes. Was detailed as enrolling officer for Washing- 
ton and Sniabar townships in Lafayette county. 

SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY, MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS. 

Emil Ninas, sergeant company D, enlisted May, 1861; transferred to 
company E, September, 1861. Fought at Pea Ridge, Corinth, Perry- 
ville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, with Sherman to the sea, 
Franklin, Nashville; wounded at Chickamauga. Discharged September, 
1865. 

FIFTH INFANTRY, MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS. 

Henry W. Thieman, corporal, company E, enlisted 1864; discharged 
1865. In 1861 enlisted in Col. Grover's regiment, "Horse guards." Cap- 
tured and paroled at Lexington. 

FIRST REGIMENT CAVALRY, M. S. M. 

W. T. Worley, private, enlisted in fall of 1862; engaged in battles of 
Jefferson City, Big Blue, Mines Creek. Discharged June 4, 1865. 

SEVENTH REGIMENT CAVALRY, M. S. M. 

Moses Welborn, private, company B, enlisted 1862; fought at Indepen- 
dence, Blues, Westport, Mines Creek, Marshall. Discharged in 1865. 

Dr. E. A. Taylor, surgeon, company B, transferred from Col. StiefHe's 
regiment, company A, engaged in battle of Lexington; was captured 
there and paroled. Re-enlisted in 1862. Acted as hospital surgeon until 
discharged in 1865. 



394 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

W. F. Walkenhorst, private, company B, enlisted 1861; fought in bat- 
tles of Lexington, Blues, Independence, Westport, Mines Creek, Mar- 
shall. Discharged July 9, 1865. 

John D. Kuester, private, company B, enlisted 1862; discharged 1865. 

Henry Fiene, private, company B, enlisted 1862; fought at Jefferson 
City, California, Blues, Westport, Mines Creek; taken prisoner in south- 
western Missouri, and escaped. Mustered out 1865. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Ben. H. Wilson, captain, then major, enlisted company F, Seventy-first 
regiment, E. M. M. ; was in twenty or thirty skirmishes with guerrillas. 

Harman Brand, private, enlisted in 1861, in Capt. Becker's company 
under Col. Mulligan. Was in the battle of Lexington; surrendered, was 
paroled, and then went home. 

J. L. Youngs, Jr., second lieutenant, company K, Fourteenth Missouri, 
under Col. White, enlisted 1861; fought at Lexington with Mulligan, 
Mines Creek, Newtonia, Blues and Independence; was taken prisoner at 
the battle of Lexington; paroled and sent south. 

W. K. Saunders, fourth sergeant, company C, Seventy-first regiment, 
enrolled militia, enlisted August 16, 1862, was in the fight at Wellington. 

Mordecai M. Gladdish, first lieutenant, enlisted July, 1861, under Col. 
White, U. S. V., and was at the battle of Lexington, was taken prisoner, 
and paroled at the same place. 

David McClure, private, enlisted July, 1863, first regiment, M. S. M., 
company G. Battles none; was stationed at Lexington. Discharged 
July, 1865; 

Cornelius Summers, private, enlisted in 1861, company I, first regiment, 
M. S. M., killed at Wellington, Missouri. 

Isaac Summers, sergeant, enlisted in 1861, company I, first regiment, 
M. S. M. Discharged 1865. 

Fritz Storberg, private, enlisted in 1861, company C, Twenty-sixth Mis- 
souri infantry. Battles, Springfield, Marks Mills, where he was captured 
and was prisoner for three months, and exchanged, re-enlisted company 
C, Seventh; afterwards consolidated with first M. S. M. Discharged, 
1865. 

August Brunes, private, enlisted 1862, in seventh regiment, M. S. M. 
Died March, 1862. 

Claus Halstien, private, enlisted 1862, in company K, Eighth regiment, 
M. S. M. Battles, Independence, Jefferson City, Blue Mills, Westport, 
Newtonia, and discharged 1865. 

W. H. Littlejohn, private, company F, enlisted 1862. Was at Lexing- 
ton, Newtonia, Pineville, Fayetteville, Cassville, Prairie de Anne, Cove 
Creek, Little Rock, Springfield, Hartsville, Clarenden, Duval's Bluff, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 395 

Prairie de Rone, Boonville, Jefferson City, Marshall, Blue Mills, Indepen- 
dence, Westport, Marias des Cygne, Warrensburg, Batesville. Wounded 
at Prairie de Rone; surrendered at Lexington. 

Lewis W. Wernway, second lieutenant, company C, enlisted 1861, 
Graves regiment, was at Carthage, Oak Hills, Pea Ridge, Lexington, 
Corinth and others. Discharged in 1863. 

Henry Boderstab, sergeant, enlisted 1862, Capt. Ebler's company, E. M. 
M. In the service about four months. 

Henry Wehrs, corporal, enlisted 1862, Seventy-first regiment, E. M. M. 
Six months service. 

Henry Miller, orderly sergeant, enlisted August, 1862; served four 
months, Seventy-third regiment, E. M. M. 

Z. T. Alkire, private, enlisted March 1863, company B, Seventh regi 
ment, M. S. M. Battles, Big Blue, Little Rock. Springfield, Greenfield, 
and many others. Discharged 1865. 

Geo. F. King, private, enlisted August, 1861, Tenth Missouri volunteer 
cavalry. Battles, Tuscumbia, Greentown, Lexington, Greenboro, Meri- 
dian, Selma, Columbus, Montgomery, Baton Rouge, Knoxville, Jackson, 
Corinth, etc. Discharged 1865. 

Wm. Boothman, private, enlisted September, 1861, in First Missouri 
cavalry volunteers, and in 1864, in Seventh Missouri, M. S. M. Battles, 
Lexington, Lone Jack, Prairie Grove, etc. Captured twice, Lexington 
and Prairie Grove. 

H. J. Utt, private, enlisted in the federal army, in company F, 7th reg- 
iment Missouri volunteers under Col. Huston, Aug. 22, 1861. Partici- 
pated in the battle of Lone Jack. Was discharged Dec. 1863, on sur- 
geon's certificate. 

Lewis S. Stout, enlisted 1862, in company B, 7th regiment, M. S. M. 
Was blacksmith for the company, was discharged at St. Louis, in 1865. 

Joseph Waring, corporal, enlisted, 1861, in company D, 7th regiment, 
M. S. M., was discharged 1865. Engaged in the battles of Lexington, 
Independence, Blue, Westport, and Drywood. 



396 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY 



Township Histories. 

CLAY TOWNSHIP. 

Clay township was named and defined on the motion of W. Y. C. 
Ewing, at a session of the county court held November 7, 1825; and it is 
worthy of note, that although the proceedings of this term fill eight pages 
of the record book, the name of the county does not once occur — not even 
in the opening formula. It would seem that they did not exactly know 
what county by name, they did live in, just then, so they would not ven- 
ture to express an opinion on the subject. The boundary of the new 
township (Clay) was described as follows: 

"Beginning in the middle of the Missouri river, opposite the mouth of 
little Sny-e-bairre, thence up the said creek to where it intersects the 
range line between ranges 27 and 28 ; thence with said range line to the 
southern boundary of this county; thence west with said county line to 
the middle of range 29; thence north along the middle of said range to 
the middle of the main channel of the Missouri; thence along and down 
the middle of said river to the beginning." 

These east, north and west boundary lines are the same that stand for 
Clay township to-day; and the territory west of that, was at the same 
term of court newly bounded, and still called Fort Osage township. 

When Lafayette county finally received its present boundaries, in 1834, 
the above described west line of Clay township became the west line of 
the county, and over that line is Jackson county. The erection of Clay 
township, with the boundaries above described, covered all the territory 
that had been left in this county under the name of Sniabar township 
when Fort Osage township was organized; and thus," without making 
any official note or record of the fact, Sniabar township was totally wiped 
out. (See history of Sniabar township, in another place.) 

An election was ordered to be held for Clay township, at the house of 
Robert A. Renick, with Henry Renick, W. Y. C. Ewing and John 
Whitsett as judges. A subsequent report shows that Bryant Sanders 
was elected constable at this first election of Clay township, and he was 
sworn into office February 14, 1826. Also, February 8, 1826, it was 
"ordered that Bryant Sanders as captain, Edwin F. Hix and James Hick- 
lin be appointed a company of patrols in Clay township for one year." 

In 1822, Lina Helm settled in the vicinity of Waterloo, near Helm's 
Lake, named in his honor, and built a water mill, which was run by the 



HISTORY OJ i ETTE COUNTY. 

power of several large springs. This was a valuable improvement at 
that time, and was resorted to by the early settlers from quite a distance. 

The first settlement in that porton of Lafayette county now known 
Clav township, appears to have been made on or near the present site of 
the town of Wellington, in 1819. Colonel Henry Renick, William Ren- 
ick, Ruth, widow of Samuel Renick, and Young Ewing, clerk of the first 
countv court, were the first settlers, all coming from Barren county, Ken- 
tucky. Thomas Hopper and two sons-in-law, Killion and John Young, 
appeared at about the same date, from Indiana, and Jonathan Hicklin 
with thr^e sons, James, Jonathan and John, and three sons-in-law, Reddin 
Crisp, Dick Edmonson and William Edmonson, from East Tennes- e -:. 
The above mentioned were nearly ail heads of families, and opened 
farms. This settlement was further increased in 1820 or '21 by the arri- 
val of Colonel William C. Ewing, Gen. McRay, John Wallace, Baker 
Martin and William Young and three sons — James, William and John. 

Shortlv afterwards another settlement sprang into existence about two 
miles north of the present site of Greenton, of which John Whitsett, father 
of William Whitsett, of Washington township, was the first settler, he 
having purchased the previously entered claim of one Michael Ferrin. In 
the course of a vear or two he was joined by Nicholas Turner, Timothy 
Dunn, Elias Baker, William Hall, William and Elisha Evans. 

According to the statement of Mr. Jesse Rankin, who was born March 
20, 1792, in Person county, Kentucky, was a soldier of 1S12, and came to 
Lafavette county in [1835, where he still resides, Anselm Harner, Elias 
Barker, William and Allen Jennings, all from Tennessee: Joseph Green, 
Isaac Gann and Joseph White settled in Clay township previous to 1835. 
Dr. Ward, from Kentuckv, also settled there at about the same time and 
was one of the first physicians in that section. The Rev. Robert Sloan, 
who since died in Cass countv, was among the first school teachers there, 
having taught in a log school-house near the present site of Greenton. 

A water mill was erected and operated by a Mr. Cobb, on the Big Sni. 

WELLINGTON. 

In 1830 a tan vard was established by Hugh McAfFerty, and shortly 
after a wood vard was opened by Peter and Jacob Wolfe, on the present 
site of the above named village, which formed a nucleus around which a 
flourishing settlement grew up. It is located on section 15, township 
range 2*>. The application for charter was made by Jacob and Peter 
Wolfe, Isaac Bledsoe, M. Littleton and Catherine Littleton. 

The plat was filed for record August 23d, 1837, and recorded Septem- 
ber 4th, of the same vear. The first house was built by Peter Wolfe, and 
he was owner of the first store in the town. The first school-house was 

M 



398 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

built in the year 1843; the present school-house was built in the year 1850. 
The first school was taught by Richard Hales, in the year 1843; Dr. Wm. 
M. Boran was the first physician. The first religious service was held in 
the Old Union church, which was used by all denominations as a place of 
worship. Wellington contains about 380 inhabitants, and its various busi- 
ness comprises five stores, one blacksmith shop, one saddlery shop, one 
tin shop, one wagon and carpenter shop, and one commission merchant. 
The Missouri Pacific Narrow Gauge Railroad is running by this place, 
and has a good depot. 

The building that Mr. Wolfe erected, the first, has long since been 
destroyed, and a fine warehouse was erected upon the same site by Wm. 
Russell, which was destroyed by fire in the year 1872, then owned by 
Lewis Day. Rope making was the only manufacture in the early days. 
Before the days of railroads this town was quite a grain depot, and did a 
deal of shipping of produce of all kinds by steamboat, and at the pres- 
ent time Mr. Day is handling considerable grain, having a large and 
capacious warehouse for that purpose. In the town are two church 
houses, one owned by the Baptist denomination, one owned jointly by the 
Christian, M. E. South and Cumberland Presbyterian. Regular services 
are held in both churches. This little town at one time contained as many 
as seven stores, and a population of 600, and commanded a trade from 
Johnson, Jackson and the western part of Lafayette counties. In 1871 
several business houses were burned. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church South, of Wellington, was organized 
in the year 1850, with the following members: Morley Arnold, Melissa 
Arnold, Affiah Arnold, Nancy Cundift, Thomas Bryant, Cornelia A. 
Corn, Elizabeth Crews, John A. Mahan, Cynthia M. Mahan, Sarah Bry- 
ant, Susan Duck, P. Ferrell, Eliza Ferrell, George W. Ferrell, Man- 
Lewis, Barbara Carr. A brick church was built in the year 1853, at a 
cost of $2,500, and dedicated in 1854, by Bishop John Early. The 
ministers in charge have been J. L. Porter, P. O. Clayton, Ephraim 
Wagoner, Wm. M. Leftwick, H. W. Webster, J. R. Bennett, John R. 
Murphy, Wallace Potsman, Newton Cordon, W. F. Truslow, Rev. Beds- 
worth, John Shackleford, Wm. Pitts, Wm. M. Bewley, Preston Phillips, 
and L. W. Pierce. The number of present membership is 65, and with 
the exception of the time during the war have held services regular. 

W ellington Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was organized about the 
year 1856 by Elder W. W. Sudduth, Elders Thomas Harbor, Jno. Slade, 
and J. T. Marshall. The congregation bought one-third interest in the 
Methodist Episcopal church in the year 1866, for which they paid $600. 
The building was built in the year 1840 by the M. E. church, south. The 
present membership of the congregation is about 30 members, the church 
is alive and has held regular services since its organization. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 399 

LODGES. 

Wellington Lodge of I. O. O. K, No. 81, was organized December, 
1855, and the names of charter members are Josna Sterin, Turner Wil- 
liamson, Dr. James Belt, John W. Matthews, and one other not known. 
The present officers are Benjamin Martin, N. G.; T. S. Lockhart, V. G.; 
Francis Myers, R. S.; J. A. Lockhart, treasurer; H. B. Corse, P. G., 
and the number of members are 20. Their hall is a frame, of good mate- 
rial and cost $2,000. Their first building was burned in 1872, and was a 
total loss, after which thev had no place to meet, but held their charter for 
two years when they assumed work again under the same name and 
charter. 

THE TOWN OF GREENTON. 

Greenton, situated on section 14, township 49, range 28, was founded 
by Joseph Green, from whom it derived its name, in about 1835. A post- 
office was established in same year with Mr. Green as postmaster. He 
also built the first house. Finis Ewing owned and operated the first store. 

The first schoolhouse was built in 1858, size, 20x40, and cost about 
$1,200. No further particulars with reference to the school are given. 

The first physician who settled here is reported to have been Dr. Bor- 
ing, of Kentucky, who died at Wellington. 

A cemetery located on the same section with the town, was established 
in 1859, and is still used as such. 

The business interests of the town are represented by one store and one 
blacksmith shop. 

GREENTON VALLEY. 

Mrs. Catharine B. Roberts, daughter of James H. and Matilda Hughes, 
who was born in Logan county, Kentucky, and came to Lafayette county 
in 1820, at the age of four years, furnishes the following information: The 
original settlers in this neighborhood were James, Moses, Joshua and 
Henry Campbell, John and Myron Helms, William Jones, and James H. 
Hughes, the latter from Kentucky. These appeared in 1820 and located 
on sections 22 and 28, township 49, range 28. Isam Manion and Athaliah 
Finch were the first to be united in marriage, the ceremony being per- 
formed by the Rev. Finch. The first male child born in the settlement 
was Rowland Hughes, son of Corbley and Jane Hughes, born in 1826. 
The first female child was Martha Hughes, born in same year, daughter 
of James M. and Matilda Hughes. The first death was that of John 
Hughes, who died in 1826, and was buried on section 22, a private 
burying ground. Dr. Buck was the first regular physician, who prac- 
ticed in the neighborhood. He died some years ago, as is elsewhere sta- 
ted. The first religious services were held at a settler's house, conducted 



40U HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

by the Rev. John Warder, Baptist, (old School). Mr. Bowman, who has 
since moved to Johnson county, taught the tirst school in 1S28, on section 
22. No further particulars in regard to the schools given. The first 
weaving is asserted to have been done by Mrs. Henry Campbell. In 
those early days, as has been stated with reference to almost every " first 
settlement," flouring mills were scarce and settlers were obliged to go 
fifteen, twenty and in their case, thirty miles in order to get corn and 
wheat ground. Indians w-ere numerous but peaceable. 

Cumberland Presbyterian Church. — The Cumberland Presbyterian 
church, in Greenton, was organized in September, 1829, and is situated in 
the town of Greenton. The first church building was erected of brick in 
1854, and is still in use, at a cost of $1,100. It was dedicated in 1854 by 
Rev. W. W. Suddeth. The names of the pastors have been: W. W. 
Suddeth, John A. Prather, James a Dalton, Mr. Van Ausdel, S. H. McEl- 
vain and S. D. Givens, the present pastor. 

The number of its members is 80. Since its organization the church 
has received over 300 members. September 12, 1850, Jacob Gillespie 
and wife deeded to Givens, Masterson and others, as trustees, three acres 
of land for church purposes, but in 1854, when another site for the church 
was chosen, the gift of Gillespie reverted back. 

The Methodist Efisco-pal Church, South, of Greenton. — Organized in 
1848 ; is situated on the northeast quarter, section 14, township 49, range 28. 
The original members were J. G. Rush, £)r. M. M. Robinson, Mary J. Rob- 
inson, Landon Bates, Maria Bates,Wm. S wink, Martha E . Swink, Mr. Egan 
and wife. The first church building was erected in 1S51 or '52, at a cost 
of $2,500. Is built of brick and is still occupied for church purposes by 
this congregation and the Cumberland Presbyterian, who joined with the 
Methodists in its erection. Was dedicated in 1859. The successjve pas- 
tors of this denomination were: Warren Pitts, J. A. Murphy, J. F. Trus- 
low and Thomas Cobb. Dr. M. M. Robinson is steward. Present mem- 
bership about 25. No further particulars reported. 

The Greento7i Baptist Church of yesus Christ. — Located on section 14 r 
township 49, range 28. Was organized September 13, 1866, by the Rev. 
Charles Whiting and about 30 original members, principally from Lex- 
ington, Mound Prairie, Concord and Mt. Zion. The first church building 
was a frame one, erected in 1869, at a cost of $3,500. It is still used by 
this congregation. It was dedicated December 5, 1869, by the Rev. Lan- 
sing Burrows, whose text was taken from 1st Corinthians, 3d chapter 
and the last clause of the 9th verse. The successive pastors are the 
Revs. Charles Whiting, George W. Smith, W. L.Robinson and Samuel 
Whiting, the present incumbent. The present membership is 9S. Since 
the organization of this church it has received 224 members; dismissed 
by letter 81; excluded from fellowship 22 and lost by death 7. The pres- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 401 

ent trustees are J. E. Shotwell, D. J. Powell and George 'D. Duvall. 
Deacons: J. E. Shotwell, D. J. Powell, John S. Davis and John W. 
Fickle. John D. Duvall is clerk. Services are held the first Sunday in 
each month. 

Greenton Grange, No. 550. — Instituted by Lewis Neal, August 5, 
1873. The charter members were: Martin Slaughter and wife, R. A. 
Hill, Wm. R. Beatty, A. G. McNeil, S. K. Beall, James A. Laughlin, C. 
T. Ford and wife, G. D. Duvall, James W. Hannah, Joseph H. Christy, 
Mrs. Sarah Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth Lee. The first officers were : W. 
R. Beattv, master; R. A. Hill, overseer; M. Slaughter, lecturer; S. K. 
Beall, steward; A. G. McNeil, assistant steward; G. D. Duvall, chaplain; 
J. A. Laughlin, treasurer; C. T. Ford, secretary; J. W. Hannah, gate- 
keeper; Mrs. Slaughter, ceres; Mrs. Ford, pomona; Mrs. Laughlin, 
flora; Mrs. Lee, lady assistant steward. Present membership, 42; meet 
in Greenton school house. Present officers, C. T. Ford, master; J. H. 
Christy, secretary. This grange has had in all about 120 members 
(including the charter members) since its organization. 

NAPOLEON. 

Napoleon is situated in the Northwestern part of Lafayette county, 
twelve miles west of Lexington on the Missouri river and on the line of 
the Missouri Pacific Narrow Gauge railroad. The original plat was laid 
out in the year 1836, by Wm. Ish, Nathaniel Tucker and others. It was 
previously known as " Poston's Landing. " Samuels & Ish opened the 
first business house, followed by John A. Poston in the dry-goods and 
grocery trade. During the money crisis in 1837 the town was abandoned. 
Then in the year 1854 Dr. James Belt went to the place and found the 
lines of the town obliterated. All that remained of the town was two 
houses, one log dwelling partlv demolished, and one log store. Dr. Belt 
began to improve the town and called it Lisbon. However, the Post 
Office maintained the original name, Napoleon. Napoleon has a natural 
landing on the Missouri river for steamboats, and more wheat, stock and 
other merchandise are shipped from Napoleon than any other point on 
the Narrow Gauge Rail Road between Independence and Lexington. 

The following statement shows the different branches of business repre- 
sented and the number of business houses: Dry-goods and groceries, 1; 
depot, 1; blacksmiths, 2; general merchandise, 1; physicians, 2; shoe- 
makers, 2; undertakers, 1; hominy mills, 2: Justices of the Peace, 1; 
dry-goods boots and shoes, 1. 

Since the above was written the following additional information has 
been received from Dr. James Belt, now living in Freedom township: 

After the panic in 1837 which resulted in the depopulation of Napoleon, 
the town was again laid out under the name of Lisbon. This was done 



402 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

in 1856 by Dr. Belt, but the Post Office, which was still caHed Napoleon, 
was not revived until 1858, with D. K. Murphy, M. D., Postmaster. 
The first house was built by John R. Shepherdson and the first store was 
owned and kept by John S. Brown. 

The first school house was built in 1858 at a cost of $250 — frame build- 
ing. The school numbered about twenty pupils and was first taught by 
a Mr. Tyler at a salary of $20 per month. The firsi marriage was that 
of George Hopper and Susanna Simms, the ceremony being performed 
by the Rev. Dr. Love. Archibald Shepherdson, son of John R. and Mar- 
garet Shepherdson, was the first male child born in the town — born March 

1, 1858. On the same day and date, Harrison, daughter of O. and 

Susan Harrison, was born — the first female child. The first death to occur 
Was that of John Everhart, who died in October, 1858, and was buried at 
Green Chapel. The first regular physician was Dr. D. K. Murphy, who 
came from North Carolina and now lives in Greenton, Layfayette county. 
The first religious services were held in a ware-house by the Cumberland 
Presbyterians. S. M. Carter, of the Baptist denomination, was the first 
minister. 

Zion Church — The Methodist Episcopal church, of Napoleon, was 
organized in 1870. The original members are John H. Eckles, Frederick 
Kreutz, John H. Gable, B. C. Rabe, William Messersmith, Henry CEhl- 
sclaeger and others. The church was built in 1870 — a frame — at a cost 
of $700, and was dedicated in the same year by the Rev. H. Fiegenbaum. 
The charge has been presided over by the Revs. J. J. Eichenberger, C. 
Mardorf, Peter Hener, J. Franz, A. H. Asling and John Demand. The 
present membership numbers 29. Congregation growing slowly. ' 

Evangelical St. Paul's Church, of Napoleon, was organized in 1875, 
and the following are the names of the original members: H. R. Ler- 
berg, Frederick Daling, Earnest Daling, H. H. Wortemeyer, William 
Westerholt, Frederick Leuhrman and Michael Bettin. The church was 
built about the year 1860 — a frame building— costing $1,000 and was ded- 
icated in 1875 by the Rev. Fred. Drewell, the Rev. William Vehe offici- 
ating ever since. The number of present membership is 23. 

In the year 1868 John F. Roberts established a mill at Napoleon, twelve 
miles west of Lexington on the Narrow Guage railroad, It is a frame 
building and has been operated and owned by Mr.' Roberts ever since its 
establishment. 

A stave and heading factory with saw mill combined was established by 
Crary Bros, in 1876, in Napoleon, twelve miles west of Lexington and 
thirty miles east of Kansas City on the Narrow Gauge railroad. The 
building is a frame, 70x35, with engine room containing engine of 80 
horse power, 25x35, and a kiln connected built of brick. The capital 
invested in buildings is $1,500; in machinery, $8,000; in raw material, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 403 

$5,000. Total, $14,500. Employs twenty hands. The amount of pro- 
ducts the past year was $20,000, this being its market, value, and was 
chiefly sold in Kansas City. The mill also manufactures a large amount 
of lumber. 

Ewing Cemetery was located on Section 30, Township 50, Range 28, 
one-half acre of land being donated by Mr. Mosby Arnold for that pur- 
pose. The first burials in this cemetery were those of Mrs. Sally D. Ewing, 
Col. Wm. Y. C. Ewing, Major Bryant Sanders, Richard Lee, Mrs. 
Polly Sanders, Miss Nancy Dunn, Miss Kizzie Renick, Mr. Cornelius 
Mabry and wife, Mary J. Mabry, Mrs. Pamelia S. Fishback, Mrs. Mar- 
garet M. More, the last two being daughters of Col. Wm. Y. C. Ewing. 

Pleasant Prairie Cemetery was first used for burial ground on Sept. 
1st, 1879. The ground was given by G. W. Grubb, he giving one acre 
of land for that purpose which is nicely laid oft' in lots 18 feet square and 
nicely arranged. The first interment was Miss Sadie Guy, daughter of 
Wm. Guy. 

Pleasant Prairie Church — The Pleasant Prairie congregation of the 
Cumberland Presbvterian church is located in Sec. 2, Tp. 49, Range 29, 
and is a frame building, and was erected about the close of the war, it is 
not now known at what cost. It was dedicated by the Rev. J. D. 
Murphy, who is also its present pastor. The present number of member- 
ship is eighty. The house was first built in Jackson county — but at the 
close of the war, it was moved down into this county, and fixed where it 
now is. They then joined with the M. E. Church South in building a 
house, which is now used by them jointly. 

The eldf rs of the congregation are T. A. Pallett, W. P. Fishback, R. 
C. Gillespie, A. G. Campbell, Solomon Everhart, Reuben Mayberry and 
Robert Fishback. 

The Mount Zion (Regular Baptist) Church was organized July 27, 
1839, and is situated in Clay Tp., Sec. 27, T. 49, R. 28. The names of 
the original members were Thos. Proctor, John C. Proctor, Isaac Whit- 
sett, Cynthia Whitsett, Caleb Summers, Henry Finch, Elizabeth Finch, 
Jesse Roberts, K. Roberts, Joseph Mathews, Nancy Campbell, Thos. 
Creasey, Elizabeth Creasey, Paschal A. Gibbs and C. A. Gibbs. The 
church, a frame, was erected in 1879 at a cost of $1,350. It was dedi- 
cated by the Rev. Isaac Newman. The names of the pastors, succes- 
sively, Elder John Warder, Henry Bowers, Hiram Bowman, John Harvey, 
Jno. Warder, again, Joseph Warder and Lucian B. Wright, the present 
pastor. There are twenty-nine members at present. It has numbered, 
since its constitution as high as one hundred members — which, by dis- 
missals — letters and death, has been reduced to the present number of 
twenty-nine. It is now on the increase. The building is owned by the 
Regular Baptist one-fourth, and the Missionary Baptist three-fourths. 



404 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

BATES CITY. 

Mr. Theodore 'Bates laid out the town of Bates City, on the Chicago 
& Alton railroad, in 1878, and in January, 1879, it was established as a 
post office, with J. F. Eneberg, first postmaster. Mr. L. B. Kelley built 
the first house, and the first store was owned by J. F. Eneberg. 
The first school house, a frame, was built in 1881, at a cost of 
$800 — the number of pupils being twenty-three, and the compen- 
sation of teacher $25 per month. David Aulobaugh to Mattie Early, 
Rev. Noel officiating, was the first marriage in the town and 
occurred in 1879. Theodore Alexander Bates, son of Geo. W. and 
jemima Bates, August, 1879, was the first male, and a daughter to R. 
E. and Ann Casey was the first female child born in Bates City. The 
first death was that of Mrs. Casey, which occurred in April, 1880, — she 
was buried at Missouri City. Dr. M. W. Flournoy, of this county, was 
the first regular physician. The first religious service was performed by 
Rev. P. T. Cobb, of the Methodist Church South. 

There are two dry goods stores in Bates City, one drug store, one 
blacksmith and wagon shop, one mill, two hotels, one church, one school 
house, one physician, one millinery shop, one butcher, and one boot and 
shoe shop. The town is located in the southern part of Clay township, 
and is beautifully situated upon the open prairie. 

The Bates City class of the M. E. Church South, of Bates City was 
organized in May, 1881, with twenty-three members. The present build- 
ing, frame, was erected in 1881, at a cost of $1,200, and has not yet been 
dedicated. The pastors have been Rev. P. T. Cobb, and Mr. Woodward, 
the present pastor. Its present membership is twenty-seven. 

INCIDENTS. 

James Johnson was killed near the south edge of Saline county, by the Kan- 
sas troops, supposed to be at the instigation of a negro, whom he had once 
whipped while acting as constable; the act of whipping was forced upon 
Mr. Johnson, by the law, and the negro, to satiate dire revenge, had called 
upon this troop, who took Mr. Johnson, and hung him in a barn till he 
was dead. Mr. Johnson resided at Bates City, and had acted as constable 
for some years previous. 

The whipping of a white man for the offence of hiding a runaway negro, 
under some sheaf oats, occurred 1858. The man was tried by a jury of 
1.2 men, and a sentence of '40 lashes, save one, was the decision of the 
jury. Robert Stowall, the man who executed the sentence, was killed 
in the year 1863, under the following circumstances: A troop of Kansas 
soldiers came through the town, and one of the soldiers recognized a 
citizen of the town saying, "how are you, John?" when the troop went 
to StowalPs, and called him out and shot him. Although no onerecog- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 405 

nized any of the soldiers, it is supposed that the killing was at tne instiga- 
tion of the man who secreted the negro in the oats. 



DAVIS TOWNSHIP. 

Davis township was formed May 3, 1830, and included the present Davis 
township, besides all of Freedom, and portions of Middleton and Dover 
townships. Its first boundaries were thus defined: "Beginning on the 
county line between Saline and .Lafayette counties, at the section corner 
between 2 and 3, township 50, of range 24, thence west to the middle of 
range 26, in township 50; thence south to the section corner of 12 and 13 
in township 48; thence east to the range line between 25 and 26; thence 
south to the southern boundary of Lafayette county, which is the middle 
of the main channel of the osage river; thence down the middle of said 
river to the range line between 23 and 24; thence north with said line to 
the place of beginning." 

These lines do not exactly correspond with any township lines now in 
the county, except the east line which now forms the boundary between 
Lafayette and Saline counties. It was estimated that there were forty- 
eight taxable families within the above defined territory at that time. The 
first township election was ordered to be held at the house of Benjamin 
Johnson; and Martin Warren, Sr., Axel H. Page, and John Smeltser, 
were appointed as judges. 

But on July 4, 1848, the new township of Middleton was established, 
and also the boundaries of Dover township fixed in their present places. 
These two changes cut off some of the territory of Davis township, and its 
new boundaries were thus defined: "Commencing at the township line, 
between townships 49 and 50, where said line crosses the boundary line 
between the counties of Lafayette and Saline, thence with said township 
line west to where the same crosses the main branch of Tabo creek; thence 
with the main channel of said creek in a southern direction, to where 
said creek crosses the section line between section No. 9 and 10, in range 
No. 26, of township No. 49: thence with said section line south to where 
the same crosses the main branch of Davis creek; thence with the main 
channel of said Davis creek, to the boundary line between the counties of 
Saline and Lafayette; thence with said line north to the beginning." Thus 
Davis township received its final boundaries, which remain the same to 
this day. 

Among the original settlers of the territory which constitutes the pres- 
ent Davis township, were Joseph Collins, who located at a place since 
called "Bear's Grove," situated near section 13, township 49, and range 
26, sometime between the years of 1825 and 1830. Alexander P. Hogan, 



406 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Wm. Anderson and Uriah Gladdish, natives of Kentucky, who settled on 
sections 35 and 36, same township and range, and Captain William Beatty, 
Major S. G. Neal, Wm. Collins, Madison Taylor, Thomas and James 
Smith, Wm. and Menona Dyer, and William Hickman, who settled in 
that neighborhood previous to 1840. The first marriage ceremony was 
performed at the house of Mr. Anderson, the high contracting parties 
being his daughter and William Still. The first male child born in the 
township was Henry Anderson, son of Ira and Columbia Anderson, born 
in 1841. The first death on record is that of a Miss Davenport, who 
died in about 1843, and was buried at the Couch grave yard. Among 
the first physicians was Dr. W. W. Higgins, who now resides in Mon- 
tana. The Rev. George Crawford, (new school Presbyterian) and Rev. 
Peter Williams (Baptist) were the first ministers reported. The first 
religious services, as far as can be ascertained, were held in Beatty school 
house, near "Bear's Grove," prior to 1840. In about 1841, the "Tebo 
Presbyterian church" was organized at the same place. The first school 
was taught in Beatty school house, built in about 1838. George Rhoades 
and Judge Lucien Cary, were among the first teachers. The school 
numbered from fifteen to twenty-five pupils, and teacher's salary ranged 
from $35 to $40 per month. This house was constructed of logs, and 
built out of funds raised by subscription. In about the year 1843, a log 
building for school purposes was erected by Elijah Gladdish, upon his 
farm on section 36. This school numbered from twelve to fifteen scholars, 
and was first taught by Miss Elizabeth Martin, (now disceased) at a sal- 
ary of $10 and board per month. At this time the custom of teachers 
"boarding around" was in vogue — the teacher boarding with each patron 
a stated length of time for each pupil in attendance. This Bohemian 
proclivity, however, is among the relics of the past. Mrs. Elizabeth Glad- 
dish is reported as the first weaver of cloth, she having brought the 
wool with her from Kentucky. 

The settlers were obliged to go from twelve to eighteen miles to mill r 
and frequently would be cut of from their homes by high water, and be 
obliged to camp out for several days, until the water had subsided. The 
trading point and post office up to 1846, was Lexington. At that date a 
post office was established at the residence of Major Neal, called the 
Hempland P. O. 

Major Geo. P. Gordon, who lives on section 18, township 49, range 24, 
says that Simon Bradley and Jesse Cox came into that neighborhood as 
early as 1820, and settled on sections 17 and 18, respectively. He also 
says that Mesdames Bradley and Cox did the first weaving in that neigh- 
borhood. 

The necessities of these early settlers were few, and supplied princi- 
pally by their own exertions. Occasionally when they desired a little 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 407 

store sugar, tea, coffee, etc., they were obliged to go to Dover, in Dover 
township, several miles distant. 

In 1844, this township polled sixty-three votes, of which number, sixty 
were whig. A premium having been previously offered for the banner 
Whig township, Davis won the laurels. 

The Osage, Kickapoo, and Kaw Indians came through until about 
1848. They were peaceably disposed, but given to begging and pilfering. 
An Osage chief, 75 years of age, came to the residence of Harvey Hig- 
gins and endeavored to acquaint him by signs, with the number of scalps 
which he had taken, and begged for a shirt. Mr. H. responded liberally 
to the savage's desires, giving him not only the shirt he asked for, but a 
pair of pants as well, and the "noble red man" went on his way rejoicing. 

Game of all kinds was abundant. In going a few rods from his house, 
Mr. Higgins would sometimes start four of five deer. Col. Mulky started 
four black bears within 150 yards of his house and succeeded in cap- 
turing two of them. In early days buffalo and elk were abuadant and cat- 
amounts were often killed. Panthers were not numerous. 

This township is well watered. Its entire southern boundary, fifteen 
miles in length, borders on Davis Creek, which receives numerous brooks 
and rivulets that traverse its diversified surface. 

Its population, according to the official report of the United States cen- 
sus, taken June 1, 1880, is 2,944. It has, however, increased considerably 
during the past year. 

Mr, Ira D. Anderson furnishes the following items of early history of 
Davis township: 

Wm. Collins, Senior, a soldier of the revolutionary war from Carolina, 
also his son and son-in-law and their families, amounting to eight persons, 
were among the first settlers of this township, settling here in 1825. The 
first marriage in the township was that of Martin D. Warren to Miss Dil- 
lingham. The first male child born »here was James Anderson, son of 
Wm. H. and D Anderson; the first female child was Nancy, daugh- 
ter of Larkin and Sarah Graham. The first death occurred in the town- 
ship in the latter part ot 1837, and was buried at Johnson's Grove, near 
Higginsville. The first Christian minister in this township was Rev. 
Thomas McBride, of the Christian church, in a log cabin south of 
where Higginsville now stands. "We had no roads in the early times of 
Davis township, but traveled by courses — our principal market place was 
Lexington. The boys would often have a big deer hunt, kill as many as 
eight deer, and get home to dinner." 

HIGGINSVILLE. 

The city of Higginsville is located at the junction of the Chicago & Alton 
and Missouri & Pacific railways on sections one and six and township 



408 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

forty-nine, ranges 25 and twenty-six, and was founded inr 1869 by Harvey 
J. Higgins, in whose honor it was named. A postoffice was established 
here in 1870, with A. B. E. Lehman as' postmaster, who also built the first 
house and kept, in partnership with his son, the first store in the town, 
the firm was styled "Lehman & Son." In 1876 the town was incorporated 
and Abram Wade was elected the first mayor. The first school-house 
was built in 1879, a frame building, at a cost of $1,200. The first school 
numbered about thirty-five pupils and was taught by Miss Anna Reese, 
at a compensation of fifty dollars per month. The first marriage reported 
is that of Lewis Henke, the name of his bride not being given, in the 
spring of 1870. The ceremony was peformed at the home of the bride, 
by George Osborne, a justice of the peace. It is asserted that Michael 
Kelley was the first male child born within the limits of the town, and 

Hughes, daughter of John Hughes the first female. The first death 

that occurred within the corporation was that of an infant son of Lewis 
Henke, which lies buried in the Evangelical burial grounds. 

The first regular physician was Dr. C. W. Seeber, who still resides near 
the city engaged in a lucrative practice of his profession. The first relig- 
ious services were held in the Evangelical church, conducted by the Rev. 
Henry Haefer. The Evangelical burial ground is located about one mile 
east of town and is tastefully laid out. The present city officers are as 
follows: Mayor, B. M. Hutcherson; councilmen, W. L. Smiley, M. A. 
Brady, H. Horstmann and H. G. Smith. Two years ago, when the Chi- 
cago & Alton road was built through, Higginsville was comparatively 
small. It now has a newspaper, a bank, two steam flouring mills, a steam 
elevator and grain warehouse, two freight and passenger depots, eight 
churches, a fine graded public school, a select school, flourishing civic socie- 
ties, a large lumber yard, and about twenty business houses. According to 
the official report of the United States census, taken June 1, 1880, it has a 
population of 797. It, however, has grown quite rapidly during the past 
year, and now considerably exceeds that number. 

The Coal Mines in the vicinity are closely allied with the business 
interests of the city, and should be mentioned in connection with it. There 
are seven shafts open within a radius of four miles, five of them being 
operated during the cold season, for the local demand, and the other two, 
near town, owned and operated by the Winsor Coal Company, which 
was incorporated in December, 1879, with Ed. Winsor, president, and H. 
W. Winsor, secretary and superintendent, in operation during the entire 
season. In these two latter mines coal is found forty-five feet below the 
surface and in a vein of from sixteen to eighteen inches in thickness. The 
daily product of these two mines, when in full operation, is 2000 bushels, 
all of which is sold to the Chicago and Alton and Kansas city dealers. 

(For Higginsville newspapers see chapter on newspapers of the county.) 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 409 

CHURCHES OF HIGGINSVILLE. 

The Higginsville Presbyterian Church (originally known as " Tabbo 
church") was organized June 19, 1842. The original members were Dan- 
dridge Morrow, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrow, Miss Mary A. Morrow, Wm. D. 
Lathim, Mrs. Elizabeth Lathim, Mrs. Mary Neal and Mrs. Elizabeth R. 
Crawford. 

The church building is of brick, erected in 1874 at a cost of $3000. It 
was dedicated July 19, 1874, the Rev. F. R. Gray conducting the services. 

The following pastors have since been in charge: Revs. George M. 
Crawford, John Stuart, Robert Glenn, F. R. Gray and S. T. Rufther. 

The present membership is 66. The church is in connection with the 
Lafayette presbytery. 

The original church building stood on the Lexington and Georgetown 
road, about two and a half miles west of Higginsville. 

The First German Baptist Church at Higginsville was organized May 
24, 1868. The original trustees were Peter Brand, J. G. Huder and Aug. 
Erdman, the last named acting as clerk. The church building is a frame 
edifice, erected in 1874 at a cost of $15S5. When first organized the 
Rev. Anton Hausler was in charge as pastor, he being followed by Rev. 
C. Schumacher, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. F. W. Greife. Num- 
ber of members at present, 78. Nothing further reported. 

The German Lutheran Church at Higginsville, known as the "Evan- 
gelical SalemsChurch," was organized in 1870. The original members 
were Adolph Wehrman and wife, Herman Haefer and wife, W. Huene- 
feld and wife, C. Haefer and wife, H. Offel, Sen., and wife, H. Schmieder 
and wife, H. Farre and wife, Aug. Caulher and wife, A. Henker and wife, 
H. Offel, Jr., and wife. 

'The building is a frame one, erected in 1871 at a cost of $1000. It was 
dedicated Oct. 29, 1871, the Rev. Henry Haefer, the present pastor, preach- 
ing the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Haefer has had charge of this church 
since its organization, with the exception of the time between 1873 and 
1877, when the Rev. Frederick Drewel had it in charge. At present there 
are 75 members belonging. The pastor resides in a parsonage built by 
the congregation at a cost of $1800. The Sabbath school consists of 45 
scholars and eight teachers. During the three months of March, April 
and May a private school is in progress in the church building, in charge 
of the pastor. 

This church is a member of the German evangelical synod, of which 
there are five other members in the county. In 1879 the congregation 
purchased a bell, costing $387. 

The German M. E. Church. — Located in the city of Higginsville, was 
organized in 1876. The names of the original members were as follows: 



410 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Wm. Liese, Elizabeth Liese, Frederick Liese, Louise Liese, Charles 
Liese, Gustav Liese, John Muller, Anna Muller, John Froeschle, 
Sr., Friederika Froeschle, Anna R. Froeschle, Jacob Froeschle, 
Mary Froeschle, Michael Waehr, Henry Meyerarend, Friedrick 
Senser, Heinrich Kripmeyer, Wm. Vieth, Wm. Heffen and others. The 
church is a frame building and was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,800; ded- 
icated in December, same year, 1876, by Rev. Jacob Tanner. The 
names of the successive pastors were: Revs. Conrad Mardof, Peter 
Hehner, Julius Franz, John H. Asling and John Demand. It has now 37 
members, and a flourishing Sunday school attached, of which the Rev. 
Simon Ritter is superintendent. 

St. Mary's Churchy (Catholic) at Higginsville, was organized April 26, 
1879. The original members were: Timothy Noonan, Martin Kelly, 
John O'Mally, Patrick Summers, Jeremiah Kelly, John P. Schurtz, 
Stephen Organ, Thomas Organ, Patrick Lillis, Patrick Machin, Daniel 
McDermott, Andrew Bomkoskei, Mark Brady, Prof. O. V. Thornton, 
James O. Gormon, Charles McGirl, and many others. The church edi- 
fice consists of a frame building, erected in July, 1881, at a cost of $1,600. 
It will be dedicated on the 9th of October, 1881, by the Right Rev. John 
I. Hogan, bishop of Kansas City and St. Joseph. Fathers Hoag, Brady, 
Cooney, John I. Lilly and F. Curran have been in charge since the organi- 
zation of this church. The last named being the first and present resident 
pastor. Present number of members 180. 

The Christian Church, of Higginsville, was organized January 18, 1880, 
with an original membership of 42. This church is properly a reorgani- 
zation of the " Republican church," originally founded nearly forty years 
ago, and having a large membership. The church building was situated 
about two miles southeast of town. This old building was sold ancl a 
frame one erected in Higginsville, in 1879, at a cost of $1,500. It was 
dedicated on the third Sabbath in February, 1880, Elder Plattenburg, of 
Dover, conducting the dedicatory services. The following pastors have 
been in charge: C. A. Hedrick and Samuel McDaniels. The present 
membership is 70. The church is in a prosperous condition and has its 
new edifice nearly paid for. 

The Baptist Church, of Higginsville, was Organized in January, 1880. 
The original members were: A. Edgar Asbury, Mrs. Ellen Asbury, 
John W. Edley and wife, A. H. Horn and wife, B. F. McElroy and wife f 
W. W. Preston, Miss Lelia Mason and others. The church edifice is a 
frame building, erected in 1881, at a cost of $2,000. The present mem- 
bership is about 45, and the church is now in charge of the Rev. S. B. 
Whiting. No further particulars reported. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 411 

CIVIC SOCIETIES OF HIGGINSVILLE. 

Mystic Lodge, No. 88., A. O. U. W.— Organized November 28, 1878, 
by W. R. Shern. The charter members were: J. H. Fuhr, G. Sharp, 
John Page, J. H. Stapp, Fred Shopenhoist, J. A. Field, M. A. Brady, W. 
H. Robnett, W. E. Ennis. D. S. Swacker. 

The original officers were: D. S. Swacker, P. M. W.; W. E. Ennis, 
M. W.; W. H. Robnett, foreman,; M. A. Brady, overseer; J. A. Field, 
recorder; F. Shopenhoist, financier; J. H. Stapp, receiver; John Page, 
Guard; G. Sharp, inside watchman; J. H. Fuhr, outside watchman. 

Present officers: M. A. Brady, P. M. W ; J. H. Fuhr, M. W.; Chas. 
Shrader, foreman; D. S. Swacker, O.; J. H. Stapp, R.; J. W. Endly, fin.; 
W. E. Kellar, G.; Jesse Field, O. W.; H. Rapsohl, I. W.; S. F. Patter- 
son, R. June 20, 1881, there were 25 members. The lodge holds its 
meetings in a frame building built in 1879. One death has occurred since 
organization. 

Higginsville, Lodge No. J64, A. F. & A. M. — Organized in 1880t 
by W. W. Preston and A. E. Asbury. The charter members were: 
Grove Young, A. Wade, James Peddicord, G. W. Houx, B. Wilkinson, 
James Robason, S. T. RufFner, W. S. Ennis, A. Kensler, W. J. Fewell, 
Wm. Doblin, C. N. Engler, and H. G. Smith. 

The following named gentlemen held the first offices: W. W. Preston, 
W. M.; G. W. Houx, S. W.; B. Wilkinson, J. W.; S. T. RufFner, S. D.; 
W.J. Fewell, J. D.; A. E. Asbury, Treasurer; James Peddicord, Secre- 
tary. 

The present officers are the same as above, with the single exception of 
a change in the office of secretary; that position being now filled by H. G. 
Smith. 

The present membership is 22. Meetings are held in a brick hall, built 
by A. E. Asbury, in 1879. 

Prairie Grange. — The only particulars obtained in regard to this organ- 
ization are, tha't it was organized by Lewis Neale, Jr., of Lafayette county, 
and that its present officers are: James M. Armentrout, W. M.; and 
Jackson Corder, secretary. Also that the hall in which it meets is a frame 
building, built in 1879, and located upon section 5, township 49, range 24. 

Davis Creek Grange No. 133, was organized in the spring of 1873, with 
thirteen members. The present officers are: Isaac McVey, Master; F. 
M. Gladdish, Overseer; William Nois, Lecturer, and Frank Mills, Secre- 
tary. The number of members at the present time is between fifty and 
sixty. They meet in a two story frame building, built at a cost of from 
six to seven hundred dollars. No further particulars reported. 



412 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

CEREALS, FRUIT, BEES, ETC. 

Christopher Ellmaker has an orchard consisting of about 200 apple 
trees, some of which 'have been planted over forty years. In 1880, he 
gathered 1000 bushels of apples from it. 

His wheat crop during same year yielded an average of twenty-five 
bushels to the acre. In other parts of this township the average was from 
thirty to forty bushels. 

Mr. George G. Elsea, has an orchard of about 150 apple trees, some of 
them over forty years of age, from which he gathered 200 bushels of fruit 
during the year 1880. 

Alfred P. Lewis has an orchard of 100 apple trees, fifty of which were 
set out in 1845, and the remainder, at various times since. Of the differ- 
ent varieties raised, he says that the Ben Davis is the most salable and 
the Genitan, Winesap and the Missouri and Newtown Pippin, the best 
adapted to the climate. He raised about 400 bushels during the year 1880. 

He also has twenty stands of bees of the Missouri Native variety. They 
get their honey from buds and blossoms during early spring and from 
white clover in its season. In 1879 he gathered 200 pounds of excellent 
honey from the product of these busy little insects. 

COAL MINES. 

An excellent mine of bituminous coal is located upon the premises of 
Mr. Michael Summers, formerly owned by Elder Martin Corder, situated 
in section 6, township 49, range 24. Also on the farm of Patrick Mc- 
Bride, in section 11, same township and range, a vein of the same kind of 
coal has been found which, however, he has never mined. 

On Mr. Gladdish's farm, four or five miles south of Higginsville, some 
fragments of petrified bones and wood have been found. Mrs. Gladdish 
has in her possession something that looks like a petrified wasp's nest, the 
cells being perfectly defined. [It is a species of fossil coral called Fareo- 
sites, which means " honeycomb stone." — Historian. * 

DEEDS OF VIOLENCE. 

A federal paymaster having in his possession $55,000, which he was 
transporting to Marshall, Saline county, with a guard of 25 men, com- 
manded by Capt. Perry, had stopped at the residence of Alfred P. Lewis, 
" for the purpose of remaining overnight. While there they were attacked 
by a company of bushwhackers, led by Dave Blount, who captured the 
vehicle which contained the money, securely locked up in a strong box, 
and its guard of three pickets. Not knowing anything of the money in 
their possession, the bushwhackers took the horses and bidding the three 
men to follow, started to retreat. One of them refusing, he was delibe- 
rately shot down in his tracks, the ball entering his back and coming out 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 413 

of his right breast. He lived for 26 hours after, and then expired. Mr. 
Lewis gave him all the assistance in his power, which, however, was of 
no avail, except to render his last moments easier. The bushwhackers 
rode off with the horses and their two prisoners, paroling the latter and 
allowing them to rejoin their comrades the following day. 

In September, 1862, John Grisom was found murdered in the Davis 
bottom, on the premises of Mr. Christopher Echoff. Grisom was a resi- 
dent of Saline county. 

MURDER OF JUDGE WM. PRIGMORE. 

This murder occurred October 10, 1864. He was shot in his yard by 
the bushwhackers, part of whom are said to have been Dave Poole's men, 
and part Todd's. The house was burned with its entire contents; Mrs. 
Prigmore and her sister-in-law, a cripple, escaping with nothing but the 
clothes they wore. 

George Albin and Ben. Neville, guerrillas of Poole's command, were 
caught in 1863, by the federals, at Oakland church, three miles east of 
Higginsville. Albin was shot and instantly killed. In the following win- 
ter two men, one named Webster, were killed at same place. 

Chas. O'Hara, a bushwhacker, was killed at the house of Rob't Van 
Meter, four miles east of Higginsville, in 1863. He was attempting to 
escape and was shot while climbing the fence. 

Mr. Sharpe, an old resident of the county, was murdered for his money 
at about the close of the war. He lived two and a half miles west of Hig- 
ginsville. 

Mr. Fountain, living about five miles west of Higginsville, was called 
out by federal militia, in fall of 1863, and deliberately shot down. 



DOVER TOWNSHIP. 

The first mention of Dover township occurs February 5, 1836, when it 
was ordered by the county court " that Tabo township be hereafter known 
and designated by the name and style of Dover township." This was 
only a small remnant of the original Tabo township, and comprised the 
most of the territory now embraced in Dover and Middleton townships. 
The boundaries of the newly named township are not given; but it is at 
this date laid off into eight road districts, with numbers and overseers as 
follows: 

First road district, Wm. W. Shroyers, overseer; second road district, 
JLegrand Buford, overseer; thirty-fifth road district, John Smeltser, over- 
seer; thirty-fourth road district, Robert Sensabaugh, overseer; thirty- 
third road district, Wm. Hickman, overseer; thirty-second road district, 

N 



414 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Cornelius Gant, overseer; thirty-first road district, Wm. Whitsett, over- 
seer; thirtieth road district, John Timberlake, overseer. 

The first mention of schools occurs May 4, 1840. A majority of the 
voters of Dover township had petitioned to be organized in accordance 
with an act of the legislature, entitled " an act to provide for the organiza- 
tion, support, and government of common schools," approved February 
9, 1839. The county court appointed Joseph W. Hall, Nathaniel David- 
son, and Hubbell Foster, school directors for the township; and the first 
school meeting was to be held at the town of Dover, July 23, following. 

July 4, 1848, new boundaries for Dover township were established, as 
follows: " Commencing at the mouth of Tabo creek, in the middle of the 
main channel thereof, where the same empties into the Missouri river, 
thence up said creek with the middle of the main channel thereof, to 
where the same crosses the township line between townships No. 49 
and 50 in range No. 26; thence east with said township line to where the 
same intersects the range line between ranges 24 and 25; thence with 
said range line north to the. Missouri river; thence with said river to the 
place of beginning." And so the boundaries remain to the present time, 
1881. 

The early French traders had called several places Terre Bonne (pro- 
nounced Tair Bone), or " good land;" such a name would first apply to 
the country generally, and then gradually be limited to a smaller portion 
and finally to the village or trading post. As American settlers came in, 
new names were given, and old ones localized and spelled by sound, 
rather than according to the original meaning in French, and often short- 
ened in sound: Thus Terre Bonne was first shortened into Ta Beau. 
Some think this was the original name and meant " the gallant," or " ele- 
gant," or as we moderns say, " splendid," but this was merely a later 
shortening of the original; it was next Anglicized into Tabbo, and finally 
Tabo, and limited to a small creek instead of naming and describing a 
region of country. Such is the evolution of the name of Tabo creek, 
•which now forms the boundary between Lexington and Dover townships. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The first settlement in this township Was made by John Lovelady and 
Solomon Cox, in the year 1817, one-half mile west of the present village 
of Dover. W. R. Cole and Tames Bounds settled one and a half miles 
west; they made some other improvements in the same year. Solomon 
Cox came from Virginia and settled on section 29. W. R. Cole came 
from Virginia and settled on section 30. James Bounds, Sr., James 
Bounds, Jr. and Obadiah Bounds, came from Tennessee and settled on 
section 31 in the year 1818. Christopher Jago, Wm. Carpenter and John 
Parkerson came from Tennessee in the year 1819. Z. Linville, a Sto- 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 415 

nite preacher, Martin Trapp, a reformed preacher, called by some at that 
time, a Stonite preacher,* John Welsh, Jesse Nelson, Enoch Fox,Wm.Fox, 
Dyer Cash and Joseph Cantrell came in 1818. Mr. Bovvers erected the 
first corn mill and distillery in the county, about one-half mile west of Dover. 
There was a log church erected in Dover by the different denominations. 
The ministers were Rev. Martin Trapp, Rev. Zachariah Linville, Finis 
Ewing, Robert King, Robert Mare; the three last named were Cumber- 
land Presbyterian; Ransom Clark, an O. S. Baptist. These ministers 
invariably united and held their meetings, leaving the converts to join 
whichever denomination they pleased. The first marriage in the county 
was at Solomon Cox's in January, 181S; Mr. John Lovelady to Miss 
Mary Cox, daughter of Enoch Cox, of Grayson county, Virginia, by Rev. 
Martin Trapp. The first births were Rebecca and Elizabeth, twin daugh- 
ters of Mr. John and Mary Lovelady. Rebecca is still living and the 
wife of John B. Dysart. The first death was Martin Trapp, in 1820; the 
second, Wm. R. Cole, September 15, 1821; both were buried in the cem- 
etery near Dover, which Mr. Cole himself had laid out. The first physi- 
cian was Dr. Buck, of Massachusetts; he died at the warm springs, 
Arkansas. The first school was taught in the log school house just south of 
Dover, in the year 1822, by George Marquis, who died soon after. The 
first school house was built of logs, gratuitously, by the citizens, and was 
located half a mile south of Dover. The first weaving of cloth is sup- 
posed to have been done by Mrs. John Lovelady and Mrs. Solomon Cox. 
In the first settling of the country, it was, like all other new countries, 
devoid of roads and means of travel, and the citizens wishing to go to a 
certain place took the direction, making a passable road as they went. 

PAGE CITY. 

Page City, situated on the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific R. 
R., was laid out in 1871 by Joseph H. Page, on 20 acres of land belonging 
to himself and 11 acres belonging to his brother, G. R. Page. 

CHURCHES OF DOVER VILLAGE. 

The Dover Baptist Church. — Organized in about the year 1844. The 
original members were: P. M. Gaw and wife, Wm. Fristoe and wife, 
Mrs. Ann C. Mallory, Willis Mathews and wife, Willis Gaulding and wife, 
David Powers and wife and M. T. Buford. The building originally occu- 
pied by this church was built in 1845, and dedicated by the Rev. Wm. C. 
Ligon. It cost about $1,500. In 1876 it was removed and a new one 
built in its stead — a fine commodious edifice — at a cost of $6,000. This 
was dedicated by the Rev. W. Pope Yeaman. 

*This was then a new sect or denomination and was called by various nicknames, such 
as "New Light," " Stonites," " Campbellites," etc . They are now known as " Christians," 
•or " Disciples." 



416 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

The successive pastors have been, the Revs. Wm. C. Ligon, E. Roth, 
Charles Whitney, E. S. Dulin, Mr. Kingdom, E. S. Tichenor, G. W. 
Smith, C. T. Daniel and T. W. Tate. Since the organization of this 
church five others have been established in the vicinity, which have 
drawn considerably from its membership, which at present is small, num- 
bering about 50. At one time it had over 150 communicants. 

The First M. E. Church, South, of Dover city. — Organized in 1880. 
The original members were: James Schooling, S. R. McCorkle and 
wife, Mrs. Swacker and daughter, M. Catron and daughter and others. 
The church holds its sessions in a frame edifice, built in 1881, at a cost of 
$1,500. It is not yet dedicated. At present the Rev. W. B. McFarland 
occupies the pulpit. Although but recently organized twenty members 
have already joined, and the indications of prosperity for the society 
in the future are favorable. 

civic SOCIETIES. 

Dover Lodge, No. 122, A. F. and A. M. — Organized in May, 1850, by 
Cyrus Osborn. The charter members and first officers were, P. B. LaBer- 
ten, W. M.; Samuel Warren, S. W.; Jacob Sutfield, J. W.; C. T. Ustick, 
Treas.; W. R. Schurlock, Sec'y; Wm. ,C. Webb, S. D.; W. M. John- 
son, J. D.; John E. McDougal, Tyler. 

The present officers are, John C. Woods, W. M.; James Clayton, S. W. 
James Cather, J. W.; H. Wahl, Treas.; R. T. Koontz, Sec'y; L. Buford, 
S. D.; John Wheatley, J. D.; Lewis Ligon, Tyler; L. B. Gordon and F. 
G. Henry, Stewards. Number of members at present, 44 Hall built of 
brick, and rented of the Dover Store company. 

WAR AND WOMEN IN DOVER. 

While Gen. Shelby's cavalry were serving as advance scouts during 
Price's raid through the State in 1864, Edwards' history says: 

" And Dover, too — this pretty little village, so peaceful and so calm — 
had put on her gala dress to welcome the army and crown with garlands 
her returning braves marching in the advance of Shelby's division. Those 
same Dover girls cost some of Shelby's soldiers dearly, indeed. Linger- 
ing behind to gather a few more smiles and bind a few more soft love- 
whisperings around hearts soon to be separated, were Capt's Charley 
Jones, Ben. Neal, Will Redd, Lieut. Seb Plattenburg, Sid. Martin, Den - 
nis McNamara, Sam. Downing and one or two others. Songs, music, 
patriotic toasts and wooings without number stole the night away, and 
continued until the cold October sun had risen red and ominous the next 
morning, when about eight o'clock one hundred or so Federals dashed 
into town and opened a furious pistol fusilade upon everything in sight. 
Seb. Plattenburg and Will. Redd were three hundred yards from their 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 417 

horses, and in a house at that, and busy with the girls. Jones mounted 
his men and fought a while to enable the two unfortunate cavaliers to 
regain their steeds, which they did and escaped from Dover in safety. 
The enemy then pressed Jones rapidly up the Lexington road, shot his 
horse, ran Sid. Martin out of his saddle, but were finally distanced in the 
race. Lieut. Plattenburg and Capt. Redd made a detour around Dover 
in order to gain this same Lexington road and came squarely upon the 
Federals who had halted in their pursuit of Jones' party. Mistaking 
them for friends, as almost all the Confederates wore blue overcoats at 
that time, they rode boldly into their ranks, remarking: 'It's all right 
boys. The damned melish are beaten at last. ' The mistake, however, 
soon came rudely home to them, and they were dismounted and disarmed." 

BUSHWHACKERS AT BERLIN. 

The Lexington Weekly Union of Sept. 19, 1863, says: "As the steamer 
Marcella, on her upward trip on Thursday evening last, approached Ber- 
lin Landing in Dover township, twelve miles below this city, she was 
ordered to land by about sixty bushwachers. There being no protection 
to the pilot house, and about fifty revolvers pointed at the pilot, he coulddo 
nothing but obey. The boat had no sooner landed than she was boarded by 
these monsters. They robbed the boat and passengers of $900, and sev- 
ral cases of boots and shoes, clothing, etc. They then searched the boat 
and found four soldiers, belonging to Col. Sigel's regiment, Fifth M. S. 
M., residents of this city, who were on furlough and on their way here. 
Their names were Martin Fisher, Chas. Waggoner, Edvv'd Knobbs, Chris. 
Seelly. They took them off the boat and a short distance into the woods, 
where they placed them in line and inhumanly fired on them. Fisher, 
Knobbs and Seely, were killed instantly; but Waggoner, not being hit, 
ran and hid and finally made his escape." 

CORDER. 

Corder is a station on the Chicago & Alton Railroad in Dover town- 
ship, and was laid out in 1878 and incorporated in 1881. The first mayor 
was G. W. Neithercut. The post office was established in 1878 with W. 
J. Leise as post master. He also built the first house, and owned the first 
store in the town. The first physician, was Dr. Lewis Carthrae, who had 
practiced in the county before [coming to this place. The first religious 
service was held in the school house by the Baptists. The first minister 
was Edward Roth, of the Baptist church. The present officers are Geo. 
Neithercut, mayor; Henry Leise, marshal; Dr. Lewis Cathrae, L. Am- 
bruster, H. F. Kleinmuck, J. W. Dean, council. 

JVieaPs Cha-pcl, Corder, was organized in 1870. The names of the orig- 
inal members were Lewis Neal, and family, W. Barley and some ten or 
fifteen others. The first church building was erected in 1870, and is of 



41 S HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

frame, at a cost of $4,000. It was dedicated in 1S71 by Bishop Marvin. 
Their pastors have been J. C. Shackleford, M. Atkinson, W. F. Camp, 
B. Margason, R. H. Laffer, W. T*. Brown and W. B. McFarland. The 
number of the present membership about 100. The church since its 
organization has been situated about half mile from Corder, but is now 
being removed to Corder. 

Corder Grange was instituted by Thomas Allen, in the year 1881. 
Nathan Corder, F. S. Burton, John Board, L. Frazier, S. B. Shrader, 
Chas. Burton, Wm. Corder, H. S. Huffman, Mack Avitt, F. M. Burton, 
Morton Hilliard, J. C. Board, Chas. Shrader, Mrs. F. S. Burton, Mrs. 
Geo. Corder, Miss Dora Frazier, Miss Zoah Avitt and Miss R. Corder 
were charter members, and the first officers, were Nathan Corder, W. M. : 
F. S. Burton, Overseer; John Board, Lecturer; S. B. Shrader, Chaplin; 
Wm. Corder, Treasurer; Chas. Shrader, Secretary; L. Frazier, Steward; 
Chas. Burton, Assistant Stewart; H. S. Huffman, Gate Keeper; Miss R. 
Corder, Pomona; Dora Frazier, Ceres; Mrs. Geo. Corder, Flora, Miss 
Zoah Avitt, Assistant Steward. The number of present membership is 
eighteen. 

LONG GROVE SETTLEMENT. 

From Joseph H. Page, son of Alexander H. Page, one of the early pio- 
neers of this township, the following information was obtained: 

The earliest settlers in this neighborhood were Martin Warren and son. 
who arrived in 1S24, and located on section 23, township 50, range 26. 
The next to appear were Samuel Walker, Adam Sensibaugh, John Ennis, 
Thomas Bucklev, Richard Collins, and Mr. Welch, who were natives of 
Kentuckv and came there in 1826, locating on or near section 26. Alex- 
ander H. Page, also of Kentucky, located there in 1827, upon section 23. 
The first marriage ceremony performed was that of William Johnson and 
Peggv Ennis, 1S2S, at the residence of the bride's father. The knot was 
tied by Duke Young. The usual custom of " running for the bottle " at 
weddings, was indulged in, and the prize was won by Granville Page. 
This curious custom is described as follows: A bottle of whisky, with a 
red ribbon tied around its neck and called " Black Betty " was the prize. 
The contestants would start on Ihorseback from the house where the 
" infair" was to be held and run to meet the bride and groom. The one 
who first met them was declared the winner, and had the pleasure of pre- 
senting " Black Bettv " to the parson, who took the first drink, then to the 
bride, then to the groom, etc. All drank from the same bottle. Whole 
settlements came without invitation and all were made welcome and had a 
merrv time, usually terminating the proceedings with a dance. 

Lafayette Collins, son of Richard and Katy Collins, born in 1827, is 
reported as being the first male child born in the settlement. He went to 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 419 

Texas. The first death occurred in 1830, that of Sarah Page, wife of A. 
H. Page. She was buried in the Page family burying ground. The next 
was that of the wife of Martin Warren, occurring in 1830 or '31. Mrs. 
Dillingham died in 1832. The first regular phvsician who located 
there was Dr. Ward. He came from Lexington and died some years 
ago. The next was Dr. Buck, also now dead; and afterwards Drs. Flour- 
noy, Percival, and others. Among the first ministers was Finis Ewing, 
who conducted the first religious services in a neighbor's house. Servi- 
ces were held in private houses until 1S25, when a church was erected, 
where Dover) nowl stands, by the Methodists and Reformers. It was 
constructed of logs and services were held in it bv all of the different 
denominations. The first school numbered about eighteen pupils and was 
taught on the premises of John Ennis, bv Mr. Gilliam, and others. Ses- 
sions were held during twenty-six days of the month aud the tuition was 
one dollar per pupil, per month. The first school house was built on sec- 
tion 26, (John Ennis" land >. Was constructed of logs and built bv the 
community, who contributed both labor and material. No money was 
expended. The settlers raised their own cotton, flax, wool, etc., and each 
family did its own weaving. Mr. Parkinson in Tabo Grove and Johnny 
Nelson, south of Lexington, each operated a cotton-gin. Supplies were 
procured at Lexington. Goods were hauled from Arrow Rock and Old 
Franklin to Lexington. 

Indians were numerous in early days, of a peaceable character, how- 
ever, though given to theft. The following good joke is told on a party 
of settlers who were in pursuit of an Indian who had stolen a horse from 
one of them: They had succeeded in apprehending him and were bring- 
ing him back to the settlement. The red man professed to be very peni- 
tent, and so won upon the sympathy of his captors that they allowed him 
considerable liberty. One night while encamped on the Blackwater, as 
he was assisting them to gather firewood, he gave them the slip, and 
secreted himselt, as they afterwards ascertained, in some drift-wood in the 
creek, just allowing his head to project above the water, where he remained 
until they had ceased hunting for him and the camp had become quiet. 
He then emerged from his hiding place, secured another and better horse 
from the camp, with which he succeeded in making his way to his tribe. 

Game was plenty. Chris, Mulkev, in 1826, killed five deer before sun- 
rise, where Mr. Page now lives. Bears, panthers, catamounts and elk 
were plenty, and " wolves by the acre," as " Uncle " Joe Page savs. A 
panther killed a hog weighing J 50 pounds and covered it with grass, near 
Uncle Joe's residence. Hunters watched for it, but it did not return. 

The old-fashioned flint-lock rifle was the weapon used at that time. On 
the 4th of July it was customarv to organize a grand hunt, the proceeds 
of which went to furnish the barbecue which was invariably had after- 



420 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

wards. Candidates and others would furnish funds to pay necessary- 
expenses. 

Flour and meal were procured at the mill of Solomon Cox, near Dover, 
also at Jonesboro, Saline county. In 1829 Dick Collins and John Ennis 
built a horse-mill on the farm of the latter. Sifters were made either of 
horse-hairs or deer-skins. 

Company musters were held at Johnson's Grove, and general musters 
at Swift's place, five miles south of Lexington. Gen. Graham was in com- 
mand. The captains were Mock, Graham, Dowden, and others. Three 
hundred and six Shawnee Indians under a brother of that noted Indian 
chief, Tecumseh, were encamped for a short time on Tabo creek, in 1828. 
They were going west. 

Johnson's grove settlement. 

This settlement is situated on the line between Davis and Dover town- 
ships, and derives its name from the original settlers — the two William 
Johnsons, cousins— who located there in the years of 1827 and 1828. Up 
to the year 1835— according to information received from Mr. O. K. Burns 
— no other settlers appeared in the neighborhood. About that time Mr. 

Simpson, a native of Kentucky, settled there, and in 1841 William 

Burns, of Virginia, and Wm. Bell and Joseph Roberts, of Kentucky, 
located near there. 

The first regular physician who came there was Dr. W. I. Seeber, who 
appeared in 1842 or '43. He died in April, 1872. The first church was 
built in 1844, under the united auspices of the different denominations rep- 
resented in the settlement, and was named " Oakland Church." It was 
torn down in 1880. 

The first religious services were held in this church, conducted by Dr. 
J. L. Yantis, old school Presbyterian. Occasionally a Methodist circuit 
rider would pass that way and hold services. Prior to the building of this 
church the people worshiped at Dover village, ten miles away. 

The first school was taught in 1841, in the log cabin of Mr. O. K. 
Burns, in Davis township. It consisted of seventeen pupils, taught by 
Mr. Harris, now a lawyer of Brunswick, Chariton county, Mo., at a com- 
pensation of one dollar per pupil per month — it being a private enter- 
prise. The first school house was built of logs, near Oakland church, in 
1842 or '43, and was built out of funds subscribed by the community. It 
cost about $40, exclusive of the labor contributed. About this time Oak-^ 
land postoffice was established in this neighborhood, with M. C. Burns as 
postmaster. This has since been discontinued. Prior to its establishment 
the nearest office was Dover. 

The first regularly laid out roads in this section were the Salt Pond and 
Lexington, and the Lexington and Georgetown roads. Supplies were 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 421 

procured at Lexington and Dover. The nearest flouring mills were 
"Brown's" mill in Saline county, and "Webb's" horse-mill at Dover. 
The settlers frequently had enough corn and wheat ground at a time to 
last them six months. A few Indians, of a peaceable character, however, 
were encamped near by, in that early day. Game was scarce — a few deer, 
turkeys, etc. In 1832 or '33 a traveler was attacked by a panther, eight 
miles east of Johnson's Grove, on the Salt Pond and Lexington road. He 
escaped to the settlement, and in company with the Johnsons and others 
returned and killed two. These were the last seen in that vicinity. 

In 1863, a bushwhacker was caught by some militiamen — his horse 
having stumbled over a negroe's grave, thus enabling his pursuers to 
come up with him — tied to a tree in front of Oaklend church and shot. 
A few moments prior to the execution he rather irreverently remarked 
that " a d — d nigger, whether dead or alive, was always in the way." 

Two Federal soldiers, belonging to Deitzler's Regt., Kansas, were 
killed in 1862 at Tabo bridge in the southern part of Dover township, on 
the Georgetown road, by Charles Petite and Thomas Paine. One other 
was severely wounded. The Federals were gathering up horses and 
other plunder and taking them to Kansas. 

Bethel Church was organized sometime in 1871. The original mem- 
bers were Dr. Bull, Jackson Corder and wife, W. R. Finch and wife and 
about 10 others. The first church building was erected in 1878, of frame, 
at a cost of $800. It was dedicated in 1878 by M. M. Pugh. Their 
pastors have been R. H. Shaffer, W. T. Brown, W. B. McFarland. The 
present membership is about 30. There is a nice lot of ground included 
with this church. 

Lafayette Grange No. 305 was instituted by Thomas Allen in 1873, 
which was the date of dispensation. The names of the charter members 
are Dr. W. C. Webb, J. G. Webb, Isaac Neale, E. Roth, G. K. Camp- 
bell and wife, and Jacob Zantameyer. The first officers were Dr. W. C. 
Webb, Master; Richard Barley, Secretary; J. G. Webb, Treasurer. 
Names of the present officers are Isaac Neal, Master; G. K. Campbell, 
Overseer; W. G. Neale, Secretary; J. G. Webb, Treasurer; Hon. W. H. 
Carter, Lecturer; N.J. Davis, Chaplain; Mrs. E. Roth, Ceres; Mrs. M.J. 
Campbell, Pomona; Mrs. Jacob Zantameyer, Flora. Number of present 
membership is 60; have no hall but lease the brick school house on the 
the nw \ of Sec. 15, 50, 25. Lodge in good condition 



422 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

FREEDOM TOWNSHIP. 

This township was first named and described at a session of the county- 
court, June 11, 1832; but who proposed it does not appear. After deffn 
ing the boundaries, etc., the court ordered that the elections for this 
township should be held at the house of James Wilkinson; and that 
Samuel Scott, Thomas Mulky and Elisha Blevins should be judges. But 
for some reason or other this intended first township election was never 
held; and we find that on May 27th, 1833, the court appointed Livingston 
Wilkinson to be constable of Freedom township until the next general 
election. 

At the next term of court, which was held in August, the boundary- 
lines of Freedom township were changed a little from those first given, 
and we now copy the record: " Beginning where Davis" 1 fork crosses the 
eastern county line, thence up the same (stream) to the line between 
Ranges 25 and 26; thence south to the middle of township 45; thence due 
east to the line between Saline and Lafayette counties; thence north with 
said line to the place of beginning. Supposed to contain about thirty- 
taxable inhabitants." 

We find nothing more from Freedom township until May 7th, 1834, 
when it is " Ordered, that Thomas Mulky, Amos Horn and John M. 
Walker be appointed judges of the elections in Freedom township for 
two years." 

In this year, 1834, Johnson county was erected, thus fixing the present 
southern boundary line of Lafayette county, which is also the south line 
of Freedom township. And about the same time nine more sections 
were added on to the west end, thus completing the territorial area of 
the township as it now stands. 

SETTLEMENT. 

It appears that the first settler in the territory which now constitutes 
Freedom township, was Patrick Henry, who located in the eastern part, 
about the year 1825. Shortly after Samuel and John Scott appeared and 
settled in the western part. James and Chris Mulkey also at an early 
day, located in Mulkey's Grove, two and a half miles south of the present 
site of Aullville. Among others who may be considered as early settlers, 
were: Dr. Davis, Nat. Davis, William Davis, David Mock, Jacob Phillip, 
George and David Welborn, Brooks Wellington, John Walker, James 
Atterberry, and Daniel Greenwood. These settled principally on and 
around the site of the old town of Freedom, a short sketch of which is 
given elsewhere. 

Scott Grave Tard, consisting of one acre of ground is located on the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 423 

southwest quarter of section 22, township 48, range 25. Jesse Scott was 
among the first who were buried there. 

Mr. Wm. Bright of Freedom township, furnishes the following items 
of early history: 

Joseph Johnson, of Indiana, but a native of Kentucky, was one of the 
first settlers of the township where he came in 1829. Noah Rigg in the 
same year settled on the same section 13, township 48, range 24. Then 
Wm. Bright bought Noah Rigg's farm, and entered balance of the section 
13, township 48, range 24. The first marriage was of Noah Rigg to 
Elizabeth Johnson, by Joseph Johnson. Joseph Rigg was the first male 
child— son of Noah Rigg, and Elizabeth, his wife. The first female 
child was Ellen Bright, daughter of William and Artimesia Bright. Ellen 
Bright's was also the first death in the township, buried at the old 
Johnson grave yard. Dr. Thornton was the first regular physician, who 
came to Missouri from Kentucky. The first school was in an old school 
house on Wm. Bright's farm, and James Campbell was the first teacher. 
He is now living in Brownsville, in Saline county. This old school house, 
on the Wm. Bright farm, was built of logs, by the neighbors, and did not 
cost much. In these early times there were no regular roads, and all 
obtained supplies from Lexington. 

CONCORDIA. 

The city of Concordia is situated on the Lexington and St. Louis R. R., 
twenty-five miles southeast of Lexington, on section 4, township 48, range 
24. In 1856, before the town was laid out, a grist mill was built upon its 
present site, by Henry Flandermeyer and Lewis Bergmann, costing 
$3,000. This was burned in 1859. The next building erected was a 
blacksmith shop, built and operated by Frederick Henricks, in 1858, 
which is still standing, (1881). During the same year, Henry and August 
Brockhoff put up the first dry goods and grocery store, consisting of a 
frame building 25x40 feet and one and a half stories in height. 

Messrs. Hackman and Detert built the second general merchandise 
store, a large two story frame building, now occupied by the Widow 
Detert. Henry Meinecke put up and operated the first hotel, on what is 
now the corner of St. Louis and Bogg streets. 

These were the principal business houses built upon the town site, 
before the town was organized. 

The town plat was surveyed and laid out in 1868, by a joint stock com- 
pany, consisting of Major G. P. Gordon, Henry Detert, Col. Geo. S. 
Rathburn, Peter and Harmon Uphouse, and Henry Westerhouse. 

A post office was established here in 1870, of which August Heckman 
was first post master. 



424 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

The town was incorporated Jan. 3, 1877, with John Smith as its first 
mayor. 

The first school house was built of brick, in 1874, at a cost of $1,300. 
The school consisted of about fifty pupils, and was first taught by Mr. 
Wm. F. Walkenhorst, at a salary of $50 per month. 

Dr. F. L. Flanders was the first resident physician. He came from 
Illinois, and is now (1881) located in Kansas City. 

The first religious services were held by the Methodists, conducted by 
the Rev. C. Bruegger. The municipal officers for the present year (1881), 
are as follows: Henry Ficken, mayor; Chas. Bergman, Henry Meyer, 
A. E. Brunes and M. Brunes, councilmen; E. F. Ninas, marshal; and F. 
H. Bartman, treasurer and collector. The inhabitants are principally of 
German descent and numbered according to an official bulletin of the U. 
S. census of June 1, 1880, three hundred and ninety-one (391). Actual 
residents, however, give the population at the present time, Aug. 1, 1881, 
between six and seven hundred. 

The following is a statement of the different branches of business repre- 
sented, as complete as can be made from the data in our possession: 

Dry goods, 5; groceries, 5; lumber dealers, 2; blacksmiths, 3; shoemak- 
ers, 2 ; harness -and saddlery, 1 ; bank, 1 ; boot and shoe, 2 ; furniture dealers, 
2; flouring mills, 2; saloons, 4; butchers, 2; barber, 1; livery stable 1; 
drug, 2; hardware and agricultural implements, 3; hotels, 3; physicians, 4; 
millinery, 1. 

The German Baptist Church at Concordia, was organized in the year 
1851. The names of the original members were: C. Kresse and wife, 
Henriette Kresse, A. Schlaemann and wife, Maria Schlaemann, P. Brand 
and wife, Anna M. Brand, Henry Uphaus and wife, Mary Uphaus, Cas- 
per Holtcamp and wife, Mary Holtcamp. The first church building was 
erected in 1865, of frame, at a cost of $1,000. It was dedicated in 1865 
by Rev. A. Hausler, A. Hoffman, and C. Werner. The pastors' names 
were: C. Kresse, C. Werner, A. Hausler, and C. Schoemaker. The 
present number of membership is 112. This church has two meeting 
houses, this one, and one in Concordia, the last erected in 1873. Preach- 
ing and sunday school at both places every Sunday. Of the original mem- 
bers, six persons are still living, one is 101 years old. 

The Evangelical Lutheran, Cross Church, under the care of Rev. H. 
P. Wille, is located about four miles east of Concordia, in Freedom town- 
ship, and was organized in the year 1864. The names of all the original 
members could not be obtained. The number, however, in all was 
twenty-eight, among whom were, Frederick Beermann and family, Diet- 
rich Oetting and family, Henry Rotenburg and family, Henry Heermann, 
John Fuchsing, and Phil. Pinkfawk. The first house was built in 1865 of 
logs. The present building was erected in 1868, is a frame, and cost 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 425 

$2,000. It was dedicated by the Rev. J. F. Biltz. The names of 
the successive pastors of the church were, J. F. Biltz, H. Bartens, and H. 
P. Wille. The number of members is about four hundred, with seventy- 
six voting male members. The congregation owns and sustains a paro- 
chial school, with a permanent teacher, and owns the necessary buildings 
for school purposes, and dwelling house for teacher. It also owns and 
keeps up a parsonage and graveyard; owning in all forty acres of land. 

The Evangelical Bethel Church, of Concordia was organized in 1872. 
The original members were H. H. Klingenberg, Wm. Sodemann, Henry 
Meyer, F. C. Cook, J. P. Lohoefeuer, P. Steimman, H. Droege, and P. 
Esselmann. The building now occupied by this congregation is a frame 
one built in 1872, and costing $1,000. It was dedicated in same year by 
the Rev. H. Hoefer. The following named pastors have officiated since 
the organization: H. Hoefer, F. Frankenfeld, H. Torbitzky, Rev.. 
Haenelt and C. Kantz, who is the present incumbent. Present member- 
ship is thirty. 

The Concordia Library Society was organized in 1880, and is composed 
of eighteen members, of whom the following are the present officers: W. 
F. Walkenhorst, president; D. H. Smith, librarian; F. H. Bartman,, 
treasurer. The object of this society, a very laudable one, is to prepare a 
resort for the youth of the city, and to place before them suitable books 
for their perusal, which will tend to keep them from frequenting grog 
shops, saloons, and other disreputable places. They have already pur- 
chased, as a nucleus, fifty volumes of miscellaneous literature, consisting 
of books of travel, biographies, histories, first-class novels, etc. The inten- 
tion is to increase their collection as fast as possible. 

Herman Lodge No. 380, I. O. O. F., at Concordia, was instituted Janu- 
ary 1, 1878, by H. Sinaner, D. D. G. M. The date of the charter is May 
23, 1878. The following are the names of the charter members: E. F. 
Ninas, Henry Meyer, William Lodeman, Gustave Wohrenbrock, Henry 
Ficken, H. W. Thieman, W. F. Walkenhorst, J. H. Powell, J. W. Wal- 
kenhorst. Names of the first officers: E. F. Ninas, N. G.; H. W. Thie- 
man, V. G.; H. Ficken, secretary; Gustave Walkenbrock, treasurer. 
The present officers are E. A. Taylor, N. G. ; C. W. Kernerly, V. G.; 
A. Nelgner, secretary; J. H. Powell, treasurer. The number of mem- 
bers is twenty-seven. There are no grand lodge members. The house 
is a frame. 

A flouring mill was built by Henry Baepler & Sons, in 1877; two and 
one-half stories high, with basement; costing $10,300. Amount of pro- 
ducts last year was 4000 bbl flour, which was principally sold in markets 
of St. Louis at $5.00 per barrel. This milLwas shipped from California, 
Missouri, at a cost of $2,500. 

A flouring mill was built in Concordia, by Mr. John Q. Klingenbrog. 



426 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

A frame cased with brick, three stories high, with basement, and the capi- 
tal invested in the mill and grounds, machinery, etc., is $10,000. Employs 
three hands. The products of the past year was 4000 barrels flour, the 
market value of which was $5.25 per barrel; partly sold at home and 
partly at St. Louis. Also manufactures corn meal and shipstufF. 

ROBBERY OF THE CONCORDIA BANK. 

One of the most daring of the numerous robberies which have occurred 
in various localities during the last few years, was that of the bank at Con- 
cordia, of which the following is a brief statement: On the 29th of 
August, 1878, at one and a half o'clock, while the cashier, Mr. Henry 
Ficken, was seated at his desk engaged in writing, two men presented 
themselves at the counter and one of them asked for change for a bill 
which he threw down. Mr. F. turned to the money drawer to accommo- 
date him, and while his back was turned, the robber, a powerful fellow, 
jumped over the counter, seized Mr. Ficken in such a manner as to render 
him powerless to move or cry out. Robber number two then presented 
a pistol at his head and demanded the money. They compelled him to 
open the safe, took out the contents, which amounted to about $4,000, 
placed them in a flour sack, and with a confederate who had been guard- 
ing the entrance, on the outside, succeeded in making their escape with 
their booty, upon horses which had been previously hitched a short dis- 
tance from the bank. 

In July, 1863, a party of about thirty-five bushwhackers came across 
Davis creek, to where Concordia now stands, and killed Lewis Fiene, 
Wm. Schornhorst, D. Karston, and Conrad Brunes. They were made 
to stand up in a row, and when the shooting at them commenced some 
started to run, but they were all killed. 

On the 10th of October, 1864, the citizens of Concordia were thrown 
into consternation, bythe report that a party of bushwhackers were in the 
neighborhood. The alarm was given by the blowing of a horn. The 
citizens gathered at the Lutheran Church, and a company, numbering 
about 100 men, was rapidly organized, under the command of Capt. 
Pepper and Lieut. Stunkle. About fifty were mounted. They started 
in pursuit of the bushwhackers, the mounted men dividing into two 
parties, of about twenty-five each, the one going east, and the other north- 
east, in order to head them off before crossing Davis creek. The party 
which went east encountered the enemy, about 100 strong, and observing 
the inequality of numbers, immediately turned, and fled toward the settle- 
ment, closely pursued by the bushwhackers, who shot them down along 
the way. Only five or six escaped. The following is an incomplete list 
of the murdered: Capt. George Pepper, Lieut. Lewis Stunkle, F. Walk- 
enhorst, Fritz Brunes, Henry Brunes,. Fritz Meyer, C. Wahrenbrock, H. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 427 

Wolters, H. Friday, Henry Reiter, William Bodenstab, H. Deus, Henry 
Grotmann, Fritz Detner, Fritz Brockman, William Brockman, Henry Meins, 
and D. Carsons. H. Dickenhorst, Judge Prigmore, and Henry Vrede, were 
killed at their homes, on the same day, and by the same bushwhackers. 

The St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, situated one half mile 
north of Concordia, was organized in 1S44. The original members were 
J. H. Brunes, Conrad Stuenkel, Fritz Smenkel, J. H. Brackman, Fritz 
Frerking, Christ. Liever, F. Fiene, H. Hartman, Louis Evers, G. F. Rake 
and H. Frank. 

The first building occupied by this congregation was built of logs, 
erected in 1844, and cost $200. The dedicatory services were conducted 
by Christ. Liever, a teacher. 

In 1859, a brick edifice was erected, at a cost of $5,000. It was par- 
tially rebuilt in 1880, with an additional expenditure of $4,500. This 
building was dedicated in 1860, by the Revs. G. Johannes, M. Hahn, and 

F. J. Biltz. 

The successive pastors are as follows: A. Franke, eight years; 

Quast, two years; N. Volkert, one year, and the Rev. F. J. Biltz, the 
pastor, who has occupied the pulpit since 1860. 

The present number of communicants is 500. Three parochial schools 
have been established in connection with this church, numbering respec- 
tively, 35, 44, and 100 pupils. 

A short time since a pipe organ was purchased by the congregation, at 
an expense of $1,200, which sum is included in the cost of the church, as 
given above. 

Parochial School. — This school, situated one-half mile north of Con- 
cordia, was established by, and is under the auspices of the Lutheran 
Church. The present building was erected in 1865, and has a capacity 
for seating and accomodating eighty pupils. Mr. Max Browning was the 
first teacher. The rapid increase of pupils has necessitated the erection 
of a larger building, preparations for which are rapidly going forward. 

THE TOWN OF AULLVILLE. 

was founded by Hall Hungate and C. B. Russell in July, 1869, and was 
incorporated in 1876. The first mayor was James H. Barnes. The first 
postoffice was established in 1871, with M. T. Hartman as post-master. 
The first business house was built by Bell & Erskin. The first school- 
house was built in ls>73, and cost $1,500.* The first school was taught 
by Miss Lilly Tolbert, for which she received twentv-five dollars per month. 
Her school numbered sixteen pupils. The first marriage was Wm. C. 
Price, of Lexington. The first male child born was John Ennis, son of 

G. M. and Tenny Ennis, born 1871. The first female child was Nola, 

*The present board of directors are Dr. T- J Watson, John Cooksey, James Barnes, 
and Edward Williams, with T. H. Fitzgerale as president. 



428 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

daughter of John W. and Franky Endley. The first death occurring was 
Mrs. Miller, died July, 1872. The first physician was M. T. Hartman, who 
was a native of the county and is still a resident of the village. The first 
religious service was held on the second floor of Mr. Geo. Emn's store 
building, by the missionary Baptists. The first minister was Rev. E. 
Roth. The town officers are: for council, T. H. Fitzgerale, Chas. Man, 
J. J. Cookey, Ed. McVey, G. Roberts, Alfred Major. Abner More built 
the first dwelling house. 

Mulkey Creek was so named for Christopher Mulkey, one of the pio- 
neers of the county. 

The Christain Church, at Aullville was organized in 1850, at the house 
of Robert Littlejohn. The original members were R. T. Littlejohn, Joseph 
Major, C. Young, Jerome Greer, Wm. Lemmons, Joseph Major, Senior, 
Wm. L. Bullard, Patrick Woods, S. S. Burton, and families. 

This congregation held its first meeting at the house of Robert Littlejohn, 
and the second in a grove near his house, and for several years afterwards 
in a school house near by. They then built a small church at a little 
village named Bethany Church, near Aullville, in which their services 
were held until 1875, when a frame building was erected in Aullville, at a 
cost of $1,800, which was dedicated in the same year, the Revs. James 
McHatten and Thos. Hancock conducting the services. 

The successive pastors are as follows: Allen Wright, John W. McGar- 
vey, G. W. Langen, George W. Plattenburgh, C. A. Hedrick, Samuel 

McDaniel, D. Greenfield, E. A. Slater, Sanford, Hiram Bledsoe, 

Proctor, and Carl. Present membership, 65. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Aullville was organized in the year 
1871, by W. H. Powell. The first members were: Mr. and Mrs. E. A. 
Elliott, T. H. and M. E. Fitzgeral, Mr. Cleveland, Isaac McDey, Sallie 
McDey, Eliza McDey, Isaac Reed, E. A. Reed, Mary Wilson, Cynthia 
Calhoun, and Isaac McClure. A frame church was built in 1871, at a 
cost of $700, and was dedicated about the year 1875, by W. K. Marshall. 

The following are the successive ministers that have been in charge: 
W. W. Powell, G. P. Sullivan, E. Kelley, James I. Porter, Samuel Jones, 
Olan B. Jones, Jno. W. Acres, and Stanford Ing. The present member- 
ship is thirty-six. Before the church was built meetings were held in a 
shoe shop. 

Aullville Lodge, No. 4.64, A. F. & A. M., was instituted by Zenophon 
Reyland, P. G. M. of dispensation dated Nov. 15, 1872. 

Charter was issued Oct. 16 1873. The following were the first officers 
and charter members: Lewis Carthrae, W. M.; C. A. Graham, S. W; 
John W. Weeks J. W.; James F. Downing, treasurer; W. C. Orear, sec- 
retary; George Osborn, S. D.; Alex Osborn, J. D,; M. M. Gladdish, tyler; 
John Snyder, C. C. Mitchell, and Robert Littlejohn. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 429 

The present officers are: B. R. Bams, W. M.; E. A. Williams, S. W.; 
James H. Bams, J. W.;John W. Brown, treasurer; J. Redeck, secretery, 
M. M. Gladdish, S. D.; C. A. Graham, J. D.; Geo. W. Trent, tyler. Pres- 
ent membership, 26. Hall was built in 1872, at a cost of $1,000. 

Jlouring Mills.— -In 1876 Dr. J. T. Watson established the mill now 
owned by Major & Ridgeway. It is frame, with brick basement, and cost 
about $2,500; the machinery cost about $4,000; three hands are em- 
ployed. The product last year, 1880-81, was 3,200 barrels of flour, sold to 
surrounding towns and some shipped to St. Louis. 

Squire Lillard has a spring on his farm, the water of which is supposed 
to be chemically of the same nature as that of the famous Sweet Springs 
and is equal to it in its health-giving qualities. 

Iron ore has been discovered on Coat's Creek, a branch of the Davis. 

THE TOWN OF FREEDOM 

was laid out in 1860, by Franklin Mock, on section 9, township 48^ 
range 25. The plat was put on record. The first store, a frame building, 
two stories, 40x24, was erected by Wm. Kane, in which he carried on a 
general mercantile business. The first dwelling house erected, is the one in 
which Dr. Belt now lives. Messrs. Davis, Livengood & Son, put up and 
operated a grist mill, which has since been moved to Aullville. Wesley 
Cox put up the next store, and kept a stock of dry goods and groceries. 

In 1857, three years prior to the platting of the town, a church building 
was erected by the Christian denomination, at a cost of $1,400. The 
Methodists purchased an interest in it, and occupied it a portion of the 
time. It has since been taken down and moved to Aullville, where it is 
entirely under the auspices of the Christians, the Methodists having a 
house of their own. Prior to the construction of the Lexington & St. 
Louis railroad, Freedom was a town of considerable importance; but rap- 
idly declined after it was built and Aullville laid out. Since then every 
business enterprise, with the exception of a blacksmith shop, owned by 
L. C. Matthews, has been moved to Aullville. The postoffice was kept at 
Dr. Wilborn's, for a time, and afterwards in Mr. Kane's store. 

Freedom Chapel, of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, was organ- 
ized in about the year 1842, at which time the church building was 
erected. It is located on section 11, township 48, and range 25. The 
original members were, Dr. H. Davis, George Davis, David Mock, 
Sr., and David Mock, Jr., John W. Walker, William and Nathaniel Davis. 
The church is a frame building, built by the community, who contributed 
the labor and material. 

The successive pastors are as follows: Revs. Thomas Ashley, Thomas 
Wallace, Joseph Dines, Hopkins, Dr. Prathman, J. R. Bennett, and 

Burley. 

o 



430 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

During the war the membership was broken up, and at its close the 
building was torn down. It has never been rebuilt. 

Freedom Chapel Graveyard, also contains one acre, and is situated in 
the southeast quarter of section 11, township 48, range 25. Elizabeth 
Mock, wife of David Mock, Sr., Mrs. Hargrave, and Charlts H.Bradley 
were among the first buried there. 

Zion Churchy was organized in 1850. The following were the original 
members: Henry D. Stunchel, C. Uphause, H. Uphause, P.Uphause, H. 
Giesselmann, G. Helms, Wm. Cuppingbrinch, and others. The church 
building is a frame one, and was erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,500. It 
was dedicated in 1872, by the Rev. H. Fiegenbaum. The following pas- 
tors have since been in charge: Revs. Charles Bruegger, John Hausam, 
and F. Amsperger. The present membership is one hundred and twenty- 
Union Sabbath School, was organized in 1871, at the Mock schoolhouse, 
on section 9, township 48, range 25, with Franklin Mock first super- 
intendent. When first organized it had 40 members, which have since 
increased to 60. B. Whitworth is the present superintendent. Sessions 
are held every Sunday afternoon. 

New Hope Church. A frame church was built on section 11, township 
48, range 25, by the Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, and Old School 
Presbyterian members in 1881, costing $600, and free to all denomina- 
tions for religious services. This building is not yet cempleted, as it is 
neither plastered nor seated. 

The Chihuahua Grange, No. 14.38, in this township was instituted by 
Lewis Neal and the date of its charter is Jan. 24, 1874. The names of 
the charter members are Julius D. Clarkson, Wm. H. Pilkington, James 
A. Anderson, Theodore Wilson, John H. Wilson, Philip Atkinson, Wm. 
Means, Hugh M. Pool, Charles R. Anderson, Mrs. Nancy Mathews, Julia 
Clarkson, Mrs. Nancy Mathews, Jr., James Mathews. First Master, J. 
D. Clarkson ; O., Wm. H. Pickington ; Lecturer, J. A. Anderson ; Steward, 
The. C. Wilson, A. S., J. H. Wilson; Chaplain, P. E. x\tkinson; Treas- 
urer, W.H. Means; Secretary, H. M. Pool; G. K., C. R. Anderson; C, 
Mrs. Nancy Mathews; P., Julia Clarkson; Flora, Lucy Wilson; Lady 
Assistant S., Miss Nannie Dalton. 

The names of the present officers are, Wm. H. Pilkington Master; 
Henry Anderson, James A. Anderson, John H. Wilson, John T. Hanys, 
Rice Fox, Samuel Williams, H. M.' Pool, Harrison Anderson, Terry Fox, 
Lucinda Browning, Minnie Atkinson and Mary Atkinson. 

There are at present seventeen members of the Grange. The house 
is a frame building. 

Excelsior Lodge, I. O. G. T., No. 302, was instituted by Hutch- 
ison. Date of charter, Oct. 13th, 1879. The charter members were L. 
Ellege, James Belt, Maggie Whitworth, J. W. Robinson, Rev. L. M. Da- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 431 

vis, O. Wilson, Miss C. E. Belt, Miss Sallie Douglas, B. D. Green, Emma 
Saunders, Mrs. B. E. Matthews, Miss G. S. Belt, Miss M. Ellege, Frank 
Saunders, J. A. Belt, B. Hopper, W. A. James. 

The first officers were James Belt, W. C. T.; Maggie Whitworth, W. 
V. T.; L. M. Davis, W. C; O. M. Wilson, W. S.; Sallie Douglas, W. F. 
S.; Miss C. E. Belt, W. T.; B. Green, W. M.; Mrs. B. E. Mathews, W. 
D. M.; Emma Saunder, W. I. G.; W. A. James, W. O. G.; Miss G. S. 
Belt, W. R. H. S.; Miss M. Ellege, W. L. H. S.; J. N. Robinson, G. W. 
C. T. ; L. Ellege, L. D. 

The present officers are O. Wilson, W. C. T.; Miss Sallie Douglas, W. 
V. T.; Mollie Saunders, W. S.; W. A. James, W. T., Miss Maggie 
Wadsworth, W. F. S.; Frank Saunders, W. M.; J. A. Belt, Sr., W. C; 
Jas. Belt, Jr., W. I. G.; B. Hopper, W. O. G. 

The Lodge holds its meetings in a house rented for that purpose. 



LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

May 4th, 1824, the following appears of record: " Ordered that the fol- 
lowing bounds be considered and known by the name of Lexington town- 
ship, within and for Lillard county, to-wit: Beginning at the mouth of 
the Big Sniabar; thence up the east fork of the said Big Sniabar to its 
source; thence due south to the middle of the Osage river; thence down 
said river iO where a line running due south from the head of the Big 
Tabo or main Tabo crosses; thence with and along said line due north to 
the head of said creek; thence down said creek to its mouth, or where it 
empties into theJVTissouri river; thence up the Missouri river to the [place 
of] beginning. " 

This is the first mention of Lexington township. Its western boundary 
as described corresponds with the eastern bounary of Fort Osage town- 
ship; thus wiping out Sniabar township for the time. The eastern and 
northern boundary of Lexington township remain the same to this day. 
East of Tabo Creek was then called Tabo township. It was at the same 
time ordered that Julius Emmons, John Wallace and Abel Owen should 
be judges of the first election in the new township, and the elections were 
to be held always at the town of Lexington. August 3d, James Fletcher 
was recommended by the court to the governor to be commissioned as a 
justice of the peace for Lexington township. The same day it was certi- 
fied to the court that James D. Warren had been elected constable, and 
he was accordingly sworn into office. 

February 7, 1826, Henry Rowland, as captain, John Robinson and Har- 
vey Owen were appointed a company of patrols for Lexington township 
for one year. This was the first appointment of such police. 



432 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



THE HOUX SETTLEMENT. 



According to the statements of Dr. Sanford Smith and others, the first 
settler who appeared in this neighborhood was Gilead Rupe, who located 
about two and a half miles southwest of where Lexington now stands, in 
about 1815. As near as can be ascertained it appears that Mr. Rupe was 
also the first settter in the territory now known as Lafayette county ; his 
nearest neighbor at that time being Jesse Cox, who settled about the same 
time in the bottom north of Arrow Rock, sixty-five miles distant. 

In 1818 or '19, Dr. Smith says that the Indians were somewhat trouble- 
some. A party of them surrounded the house of Mr. Rupe and beseiged 
him and his family for three or four days. Two of his sons, who were 
carefully watching for an opportunity, succeeded at last in slipping out 
unobserved and made their way to Booneville, where assistance was pro- 
cured and the savages were driven oft". 

In about 1817 David James, with three grown sons, two of whom were 
named Jesse and Henry, settled on section 16, township 50, range 27. 
Subsequently ascertaining that he was occupying a school section, he 
moved and made a location a little south of what is now known as the 
"Silver" farm and afterwards moved to the head waters of the Little SnL 

In 1818 or '19, Nicholas Houx appeared in the vicinity and built a tan- 
nery, which in 1827, was purchased by Wm. Smith, (father of Dr. Smith) 
who operated it for over eight years. 

The first regular physician who appeared in this settlement was Dr. 
Rankin, from Kentucky, whose father founded Shakertown, of that State. 
The doctor located near the camp ground, situated on section 17, town- 
ship 50, range 27. He now resides with his son-in-law, Judge Findley 
Barnet, near Odessa. Is over ninety years of age. 

The first school was taught in a log cabin, near where John R. Houx 
now lives, by Robert D. Morrow, in 1821 or '22; so Dr. Mitchell and Dr. 
Smith say. Mr. Morrow subsequently became a Cumberland Presby- 
terian minister. The first public school building was built of hewed logs r 
in 1829 or '30 — labor and material furnished by the neighborhood. The 
first teacher to occupy it was Harry Bellows, who now lives in Platte 
county, Missouri. Weaving was done by nearly every housekeeper, from 
the products of the farm. 

The first steamboat landing at Lexington was at the mouth of " Rupe's 
branch " — so named for Gilead Rupe. Dr. Smith distinctly recollects 
seeing the first steamboat land there when he was quite a small boy. 

MURDER OF MR. WHITE. 

Mr. Charles White, originally from New York, who had married the 
widow Graves and settled as a farmer two and a half miles south of Lex- 
ington, was a Union man. When Capt. Fred Neet and Major Becker 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 433 

were paroled after the battle of Lexington, and had to leave town any- 
way they could, they started afoot to Hamilton on the old Hamilton & St. 
Joe railroad, which was then the nearest railroad station, and Mr. White 
went with them. When they had got about three miles beyond Rich- 
mond, near Duval's, they were overtaken by some cavalry claiming to 
have an order from Gen. Price to arrest Neet and Becker. Two of the 
cavalrymen rode up, one on each side of Mr. White and caught him by 
the ears, pulling him along in this way between them until they had gone 
out of sight from where Neet and Becker were stopped, three others fol- 
lowing them. Two pistol shots were heard and then in a few minutes 
the five riders returned, and the whole party started: back to Lexington. 
At Richmond, Neet saw one of the men who had Mr. White's overcoat 
pull out the murdered man's pocket book and pay for liquor for the crowd 
with certain bank bills which Neet and Becker both had seen Mr. White 
have. The names of the men who took White oft' and shot him were 
furnished; they still reside in the county, but we omit them. After being 
brought back to Lexington and lodged in jail, Neet and Becker learned 
that they were charged with robbing a jewelry store; Gen. Price found 
nothing proved against them, and they were again released. They finally 
escaped by night travel and day hiding, down to Sedalia and thence to 
St. Louis. 



CITY OF LEXINGTON. 

The first time that the name " Lexington " occurs in the early court 
records of Lillard county is under date of August 6, 1822. The record 
says: " It is ordered that David Ward, Absalom Coleman, Robert W. 
Rankin, and Joseph. Hobson, or any three of them, being first sworn, be 
appointed to view the nearest and best route for a road to run from Lex- 
ington by way of the upper ford of the Big Sniabar to Stokely's Ferry, on 
•the Missouri river." Then again, August 19th, it is ordered that John 
Nelson, Markham Fristoe, Ira Bidwell and Jacob Catron, shall lay out a 
road from Lexington to intersect the road leading from the salt works to 
Jack's Ferry. This ferry had been established by Wm. Jack, in 1819, its 
landing place being a little below the mouth of Graham's Branch, or near 
the foot of Commerce street, which was graded down the bluff and well 
paved, as the grand thoroughfare from the city on the bluff down to her 
steamboat landing. But from the very spot where Jack's Ferry, and after- 
ward steamboats used to land, it is now, 18S1, a half mile or more over 
solid land to the water's edge in the Missouri river; and the Lexington 
and Kansas City Railroad (narrow gauge), runs here for half a mile over 
ground where the river used to flow from ten to twenty-five feet deep. 



434 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Tne first plat in the book of town plats of the county is that of Lexing- 
ton—the original village, or old town, which was about a mile and a half 
from the river at Jack's ferry. (The Missouri Pacific railroad depot is 
now, 1881, in Old Lexington. The following certificate accompanies the 
plat: 
State of Missouri, 



County of Lillard. \ 

We, James Bounds, Sr., John Duston and James Lillard, commissioners 
in trust for Lillard county, do certify this to be a correct map or plan of 
the town of Lexington, as surveyed, numbered and sold according to the 
numbers, and sold on the 8th day of April, 1822. 

his 
James x Bounds. 

mark. 
John Duston. 
James Lillard. 

The lots were 75x145 feet, streets 75 feet wide, and alleys 16£ feet (one 
rod), in width. 

Mount Vernon, the first county seat, never was platted, and has now 
gone entirely out of mark or memory. It was a mere irregular group of 
cabins situated on the southeast quarter of section 23, township 51, range 
26, on the bluff' half a mile east of Tabo creek and three-fourths of a mile 
from the Missouri river. It was a place where three or four tribes of Indi- 
ans used to come to smoke the peace-pipe and barter with French trad- 
ers. Terre Bonne, " good land," or "good place," or " no-fight place, ' 
was what the Fiench had taught the Indians to call it. But the Ameri- 
cans called the place Mount Vernon, as a token of their reverence for 
Gen. Washington. 

The commissioners whose report is above quoted, had been appointed 
March 12th, hence they had selected and surveyed the site, made plat, sold 
lots and filed their report in less than a month. The county court held 
its last term at Mount Vernon in November, 1822. Its next sitting was 
at Lexington, February 3, 1823, in Dr. Buck's house, the first one built in 
the town. 

A large proportion of the settlers at this time were from Kentucky, and 
the town was named in honor of the city of Lexington in that state. 

November 23, 1825, the new court house, built by Henry Renick, was 
accepted and occupied. But it was so defective (for contractors were no 
honester then than now), that in a few years it had to be abandoned, and 
on Aug. 1, 1832, it was sold by auction just for what it would bring as old 
bricks and old lumber. In 1835 a new court house was completed, a 
three story brick building. This was used ten years, then the presen; 
court house was built and occupied. 

June 5, 1849, the court ordered " that the public square in the town of 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 435 

Lexington, (commonly called Old Town), together with the buildings 
thereon, be sold to the highest bidder, on the first Monday of August 
next; and also the lot on which the old jail stood." Louis W. Smallwood 
was the commissioner to manage this sale. 

In 1847, March 25th, an order had been issued for building a new court 
house on the public square in the city of Lexington. Silas Silver, John 
Catron, and Robert Aull were appointed as commissioners to oversee the 
work, with Henderson Young as their attorney for legal council on any 
contracts they might enter into. Win. Spratt was afterwards added to 
the board. In April a plan submitted by Wm. Daughertv for court house 
was accepted, and $12,000 was appropriated for the building. Daugherty 
was subsequently paid $40 for his drawing and specification. 

The names which eventually appear as the builders of the new court 
house (the one now in use, 1881,) are Elijah Littlejohn, Alexander Mc- 
Faddin, John Alford, Wm. Hunter, Gabriel F. Brown, Samuel Ball, and 
Cyrus Osborn, the latter did the painting. 

The stone jail now in use was built by Gabriel F. Brown, in 1846. 

The city charter was obtained in 1845, and Eldridge Burden was the 
first mayor. Also in 1845 a branch of the state bank was established at 
Lexington. The presidents of the several state banks were elected by 
the legislature in joint ballot. The first president of this Lexington branch 
was Col. Lewis Green; second, Lieut. Col. James Young; third, Judge 
E. Burden, who served six years. There were one or two afterwards, 
and the state part of the bank was finally removed to Louisiana, in Pike 
county. For an interesting episode in the history of this bank, see account 
of the battle of Lexington, in another place. 

UNCLE GEORGE HOUX. 

A Mayview correspondent of the Lexington Intelligencer, July 10, 
1880, wrote concerning an interview with the above named Lafayette 
county pioneer: " In comparing early times with now in regard to hon- 
esty, Uncle George says, that money was sewed up in leather bags with 
whangs and carried on horseback, like meal sacks from Santa Fe, and 
when they arrived in Lexington, at the tavern, in Old Town, were thrown 
down like common luggage. These bags would get so hard and dry 
that they would feel like logs when thrown down. A man by the name 
of Green kept the inn, as it was then called, and Ed. Ryland, who was 
then receiver, would take the money and store it away in the rear of 
Stramcke's store, and when he got a wagon load it was hauled away in 
farm wagons to St. Louis, with no other guards than the two teamsters 
and a man or two. And once when he was in the circuit court, while 
John F. Ryland was on the bench, he heard the charge given to the 
grand jury and they went out of doors as they had no jury room, he 



436 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

does not know where, whether to a hazel patch or a fence corner, and 
returned in a few minutes and said that no one had been doing anything 
wrong and the judge replied that this was the fifth term and no one 
had been indicted, and complimented the county for its morality and 
honesty. He tells of another incident connected with the early history. 
He says that there was no blacksmith shop nearer this county than Old 
Franklin, and his brother Nick, as he calls him, fixed up the fore-wheels 
of his wagon, and the neighbors all brought in their old axes and broad 
axes, and he, with his load, went to Old Franklin to get a box of gold and 
silver belonging to Mr. Hicklin, father of Mr. James Hicklin. The neigh- 
bors in both counties knew of it. He says that they had no use for any 
officers but a clerk to keep the records, and a sheriff to collect and pay 
over the revenue. He says that doubtless Mr. Stramcke and Rob't Hale 
recollect these times. He tells how Judge Hicks got to be a lawyer. 
John Aull's father furnished the money to buy the books, and he was to 
help his son to keep store in return, and read law at the same time at 
leisure moments. 

Uncle George moved to Lexington, Missouri, in 1830, and lived there 
until 1842, carrying on the saddlery business during that time. There are 
some saddles which were made in his shop still in this neighborhood, one 
a side saddle at Mr. Moore's; near Mr. Lankford's. He has one himself 
forty years old. These were made when workmen were honest, and 
before wooden nutmegs were thought of. He and Gen. Graham laid off 
the first addition to the town of Lexington, measuring the lots with a level 
made of a plank with a vial in one end. Where Lexington now stands 
was then heavily covered with timber, and they thought that as Wellington 
was immediately on the river, unless something was done it would be the 
town of the county, so a company was formed, and purchases made on 
and near the river, and the first addition was laid off as above stated. 
Then the second addition was purchased by the two Pomeroys, Gen. 
Graham and the subject of this sketch. He moved from Lexington, 
March 1, 1842, to where he died in 1881. Uncle George's father moved 
to Logan county, Kentucky, at an early day, when it was then a new 
country like Missouri, hence his opportunity for an education was bacj; the 
best he got was in the corn and wheat fields. 

CHURCHES IN THE ORDER OF DATE OF ORGANIZATION. 

Eden View Church.— The original congregation of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian denomination, from which the one that worships in the above 
named church sprang, is of rather remote origin, dating as far back as 
1821 or '22. 

From Dr. E. S. Smith, son of Wm. Smith, one of the original mem- 
bers, the following information is obtained: 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 437 

This church was organized in 1821 or '22, with Chatham Ewing and 
wife, Wm. Jack and wife, George Houx and wife, Adam Young and 
wife, Nicholas Houx, Wm. Smith and wife, John Nelson, Mrs. Dr. Ran- 
kin, Judge John Whitsett, — Owen, Philip Houx and wife, James Mor- 
row and wife, as original members. The first church building was built 
of logs, erected in about the same year, on land adjoining that of Dr. 
Mitchell, in or near section 17, township 50, range 27, called " Sni Grove 
church." It was subsequently burned. In about 1827, Nicholas Houx, 
Chatham Ewing, George Houx, Esq. Owens and Wm. Jack, as trustees 
for the church, entered the southeast quarter of section 17, township 50, 
range 27,* and erected thereon a fine brick church, 21x50 feet (the first 
brick building erected in the county), a large tabernacle, 85xby60 feet and 
also twenty-two cabins of hewed logs. This, on account of its superior 
facilities for camp meeting purposes, became one of the most noted points 
for religious gatherings, on the upper Missouri, where was known to have 
congregated more than ten thousand people at one time, which viewed in 
the light of the fact, that this section of the county was very sparsely set- 
tled at that early day, is an item of considerable historic importance. 

Subsequently, a division in the congregation was made. The Lexing- 
ton membership united with the Old School Presbyterians, and erected a 
frame building in Old Town, of which the Rev. Finis Ewing was pastor. 
This was afterward abandoned or sold to private parties, who used it for 
storing hemp and other merchandise, and has since been burned. A 
frame building was then erected on Main Cross street, Lexington, which, 
in 1879, was sold to the German School Association, who now occupy it, 
and also rent it for Sunday use to the German Trinity church. In 1880, 
the building which the Eden View congregation now occupies, was 
erected on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 9, 
township 50, range 27, on Judge Rathburn's land, at a cost of $1,800. 

" Eden View r " was the name adopted by the congregation. It was ded- 
icated on the third Sundav of December, 1880, by the Revs. Frank Rus- 
sell and Albert Moore. The successive pastors during the period 
between 1821 and 1840, were the Revs. Robert D. Morrow, afterwards 
D. D.; Finis Ewing, Robert Sloan and Henry Renick. 

The Christian or Church of Christ, Lexington, was organized on the 
17th day of April, 1836, by Elder Levi Vancamp and Deacon George W. 
Marquis. The names of original members were Levi Vancamp, Phoebe 
Vancamp, Wm. S. Vancamp, America Vancamp, Mary Vancamp, Abi- 
gail Vancamp, Elizabeth Mosby, John S. Porter, Elvira Porter, Samuel 
R. Benton, Ann Benton, Rebecca Thorp, Lavina Marquis, George W. 
Marquis, Wiatt H. Stone, Eliza. J. Stone, Cinderella Bounds, James 

*Eighty acres were entered for cnurck purposes and eighty, upon which to build a par- 
sonage and provide for the pastor. 



438 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Bounds, Robert Littlejohn and James A. Marquis. The first church 
building was erected on the corner of Poplar and North or Main streets, 
at a cost of about $4,000; it was sold to the colored Baptists in 1873 or 
1874. The present church on South street was erected in 1870, of brick, 
at a cost of about $15,000. Their pastors have been Revs. Duke Young, 
Frank R. Palmer, John Callerman, Thomas N. Gaines, S. S. Church, 
Allen Wright, Samuel Swinford, Noah Miller, George W. Elley, Thomas 
P. Haley, Henry H . Haley, John R. Frame, Wm. C. Dawson, D. M. 
Grandfield, George G. Taylor, Frank W. Allen, E. B. Edgar, George 
Plattenberg, Jesse H. Hugftes and the present pastor, Chapman S. 
Lucas. The present membership is 301. Sunday school was organized 
in the summer of 1844, by Dr. Joseph G. Chinn. Present officers are 
George M. Catron, superintendent; James P. Hall, assistant; Ernest 
McCausland, secretary and treasurer. Average attendance, 50 to 60. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Lexington, Missouri, was organized 
in 1839, by Revs. Wm. Dickson and Geo. M. Crawford, by order of the 
presbytery of Missouri, and under authority of the general assembly of 
the Presbyterian church in the United States of America. Messrs. Dick- 
son and Crawford were assisted by Rev. Mr. Remley, of Louisville, Ky. 
The original members were: 

Lewis Green, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Green, Elizabeth P. Green, Gallatin, 
Tenn.; Nathaniel J. Carter, Mrs. Caroline Carter, Arthur G. Young, Alaj 
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Young, New Providence, Tenn.; Sarah Carter, Rog- 
ersville, Tenn.; Mary Tyree, Shiloh, Term.; Mary A. Remley, Indiana; 
Mrs. Matilda H. Spratt, Mt. Carmel, Va.; Mary J. Miller, Mary Leivsay, 
Virginia; Elizabeth Aull, James Aull, Mrs. Maria Pomeroy, New Cas- 
tle, Del. ; John W. Bray, Mrs. Mary Bray, New Jersey; Mrs. Logan, Mrs. 
Henrietta Miller, Kentucky. 

Lewis Green and Arthur G. Young were the first ruling elders. In 
1844 they built a brick edifice on the corner of Franklin and Pine streets 
at a cost of about $10,000.- 

Rev. J. L. Yantis occupied the pulpit as stated supply from August, 
1841, until July, 1847. There were then only occasional supplies till Sep- 
tember 25, 1849. From this time Rev. A. V. C. Schenck served as stated 
supply until June, 1850; then he was installed as pastor, and served until 
June, 1853. At this time he took charge of the first female seminary 
established in Lexington. It was an independent school — not denomina- 
tional — and ultimately merged into the Baptist female seminary, which has 
done so much to give Lexington a high reputation abroad as a center of 
education and refinement. In the spring of 1854 Rev. B. F. Hobson, D. 
D., was engaged as stated supply, and continued to serve until the orderly 
course of events was disrupted by circumstances incident to the civil war. 
After an interregnum, Rev. J. A. Quarles was engaged in January, 1866, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 439 

as stated supply, and so continued for some months, when a church divis- 
ion occurred. 

Among other events of the war times, independent presbyteries and a 
synod of Missouri were formed, separate from the original presbyteries 
and synod under authority of the original general assembly of the Pres- 
byterian church in the United States of America. The new presbytery, 
which included Lexington within its territory, was commonly known as 
the " Declaration and Testimony Presbytery of Lafayette," and in 1867 
met at Prairie church, while the other one, which still held its relation with 
the old original general assembly, met at Pleasant Hill. On September 
29, 1807, the church session elected, by one majority, Elder John R. 
Ford as its commissioner to presbytery, with the understanding that he 
would attend the "declaration and testimony presbyterv" at Prairie 
church, and not the one which was to meet at Pleasant Hill. Two of the 
elders, Messrs. A. H. McFadden and Patrick Ballard, duly filed their pro- 
test against this church sending a commissioner to the new body. The 
protest recited in detail, under four specific counts, their grounds of objec- 
tion to the move. The first clause of the second count says: " We pro- 
test against this act, because it is an attempt to change the ecclesiastical 
connection of this church to a body foreign to that to which it has always 
sustained its relation." There were property matters involved, as well as 
ecclesiastical, all of which were duly set forth, and the prolestants further 
said: "We therefore proclaim ourselves, and as many as may with us desire 
to preserve their former church relations, the only true and lawful church 
organization in the city of Lexington in connection with and under the 
care and authority of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in 
the United States of America." 

As a result of this state of affairs, the protesting elders held a session 
the next day, Sept. 30, and appointed A. H. McFadden commissioner to 
the presbytery of Pleasant Hill, which still held its connection with the 
original general assembly. Thus the same nominal society had two sets 
of commissioners representing it in two different presbyteries, and the 
membership of the church was divided on the subject. The " regular 
succession " party continued to hold separate meetings and transact all 
church business, claiming to be the only legal holders of the name and 
property of the First Presbyterian church of Lexington, Mo., and there 
is no doubt the federal courts would have sustained their claim; neverthe- 
less, those who adhered to the new or independent presbytery held actual 
possion of the church property — and possession is said to be " nine points 
of the law." 

Both parties were desirous to avoid the scandal to religion of an unseemly 
contest in the courts over the church property; and in pursuance of this 
view, January 10, 1870, an equitable division of the property was finally 



440 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

agreed upon. The " regular succession " body retained the original cor- 
porate name; and in consideration of $5,000, to be paid them in cash, they 
agreed to relinquish their claim to the church property. The church rec- 
ord book, under date of March 2, 1880, says: 

On motion, the elders, A. H. McFadden, P. Ballard and Robert Tay- 
lor, and the trustees, G. W. McKean, Robert Taylor and P. Ballard, were 
duly authorized to sign a quitclaim deed to the old Presbyterian house of 
worship and all its appurtenances, and to the Elizabeth Aull seminary and 
appurtenances thereto belonging, from this congregation to the Declara- 
tion and Testimony congregation of this city, and of which the Rev. J. A. 
Quarles is pastor. 

This ended amicably all difficulties between the two claimants, and dur- 
ing this same year (1870) the new "First Presbyterian church," a fine brick 
structure, was built on the corner of Elm and North streets, at a cost of 
$11,000. [Now known as "Wentworth academy."] 

The formal division of the church occurred in 1867. In the fall of 1868 
Rev. J. W. Clark was installed as pastor, by authority of the Lafayette 
presbytery, in connection with the general assembly of the Presbyterian 
church in the United States of America. He served three years, and was 
succeeded in the fall of 1871 by Rev. J. H. Byers, who served until 1874. 
Rev. J. M. Chaney then served as stated supply till the spring of 1875. 
By this time the society had become so weakened by removals and pecu- 
niary losses among its members that it was unable to sustain a minister, 
and no stated preaching was had thereafter. 

April 9, 1878, this church made formal request of their presbytery to 
dissolve the organization, for reasons which were set forth in five several 
specifications. May 24, 1880, the trustees were authorized to sell the 
church property. April 11, 1881, they reported that they had sold it to 
S. G. Wentworth, for $2,500, had used all the money to pay debts of the 
church, and that the church was now " entirely free from debt." 

[Mr. Wentworth gave the building toward founding a school called the 
" Wentworth Male Academv," a sketch of which will be found in another 
place.] 

The most prosperous year of this church, after the organic division was 
that which closed April 1, 1874. During that year eighteen had been 
added; three adults and three infants baptized; there were eighty-six com- 
municants in the church, and one hundred members of the Sabbath school. 
There had been $1,070 contributed for congregational expenses, and $46 
for other purposes. This church made a sturdy and heroic struggle for 
life, and went down at last without a smirch of dishonor tarnishing her 
folded skirts. 

Our narrative now reverts back to September, 1867, when the formal 
division took place. Rev. J. A. Quarles was then serving the church as 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 441 

stated supply, but the same fall he was installed as pastor, by authority of 
the new synod of Missouri which had been formed, independent of the old 
original general assembly of Presbyterien Churches in the United States 
of America. His successors in the pastorate have been Rev. R. P. Kerr, 
and Rev. George L. Leyburn, the present pastor. Total present mem- 
bership, 180. 

The earliest record of the Sunday-school connected with this church is 
dated January 1, 1851, and shows, at that time, eight male and ten female 
teachers, ninety-three scholars, and six hundred library books. The same 
date shows the church bell just received, and that it cost $208. It was the 
same bell which is still on the old Presbyterian Church, corner of Pine j - 
a and Soffth streets. The Sunday-school now has an average attendance 
cft'about one hundred pupils, and eighteen to twenty teachers and officers. / 
The present officers are: Xeonphon Ryland, superintendent; W. G. Mc- 
Causland, assistant superintendent; W. B. Wilson, secretary; Bates 
Vaughan, treasurer; Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, librarian. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Lexington, was organized 
about the year 1837, and the names of the members at that time were: 
Thomas Calloway, Dr. Talbert, John Auston, Lucy Anderson, David Gil- 
lispie, Mary Gillispie, Cyrus Osburn, A. W. Henning, V. Zeigler, I. Bolin, 
John Brown and wife, Clark Peters, Harriet Eckle, John Eastwood, J. 
Wetzel, D. Lock, Dr. Blackwell, Mahala Brackwell, James Cloudsley and 
wife, James Norfolk and wife. 

The first church was built, of brick, in the year 1840, and rebuilt, of 
brick, in 1860, at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated, by Bishop H. H. 
Kavanaugh, in the same year. Their pastors have been Clinton, Buvley, 
Dodds, Westerman, Forsythe, Johnston, Ashley, Jones, Boyle, Hamilton, 
Morris, Scarritt, Finney, Cobb, Kavanaugh, White, McFarland, Shackel- 
ford, Hall, Godbey, Camp, Stacy, Boggs, Thos. Cobb, Pugh, Williams, 
and Walker. 

The membership at the present is 191, and connected with the church 
is a Sabbath-school, organized in the year 1840, with Silas Silver as super- 
intendent. 

The First Baptist Church of yesus Christ, at Lexington, Missouri, was 
formerly known as the Little Sniabar Church, and, prior to 1838, enjoved 
the ministrations of Rev. John Warder. During this time, the church 
met for worship at a house two or three miles southwest of the city of 
Lexington ; but no book of records can be found of earlier date than Jan- 
uary 27, 1838, on which day the church met for worship and business at 
Lexington. In July, of the same year, Rev. Joseph White was chosen 
pastor. At the church meeting in February, 1S40, the name was changed 
from Little Sniabar Church to First Baptist Church at Lexington, Mis- 
souri. In May, of this year (1840), Elder White resigned the pastorate; 



442 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

then Rev. Alvin P. Williams was chosen in his stead, and served the 
church until November, 1843. During his pastorate, the house of wor- 
ship on Franklin street was built; and five neighboring churches of the 
same faith were established, to-wit: In Dover. Richmond, Mound Prairie, 
Greenton, and the First African Baptist Church of Lexington. 

In November, 1843, Rev. Wm. C. Ligon was elected pastor, and served 
until Maj' 27, 1847; then Rev. Edward Roth was chosen, who served 
until August, 1848. In March, 1849, Rev. E. S. Dulin became the pastor, 
and continued until December of that year, when he removed to Libert}', 
to open and conduct the William Jewell College at that place. 

Rev. Josiah Leak was pastor from May, 1850, till July, 1851; then 
Rev. D. L. Russell, until August, 1853. In January, 1854, Rev. Tyree 
C. Harris was elected pastor; commenced his labors in August folio wing 5 
bnt fell sick and died in a few weeks. In February, 1855, Rev. E. S. Dulin 
was again chosen to serve the church in the office of pastor; in July, 
of the same year he was called to the presidency of the Baptist Female 
College, and resigned his pastoral office, but continued to serve the church 
until the spring of 1856. In January, 1856, Rev. Joseph W. Warder was 
elected pastor, but did not enter upon his duties here until April 13; he 
then continued in the sacred office until April 6, 1865 — a period of nine 
years, when he resigned — and now Rev. E. S. Dulin was for the third 
time chosen to fill* the place. He served the church as pastor and the 
college as President, until August, 1868, when, the double duties being 
too arduous, he resigned the pastorate again. 

During the year 1867-68, the church built its present house of worship, 
on the corner of Poplar and North streets, at a cost of $28,500. The 
house being all paid for, it was formally dedicated to the worship of 
Almighty God, on July 19, 1868 — the pastor, Rev. Mr. Dulin, preaching 
the sermon and offering the dedicatory prayer. The number of members 
at this time was 299. 

Rev. Lansing Burrows served the church as pastor from November, 
1868, until November, 1870. In February, 1871, Rev. D. H. Selph, D. D., 
was elected pastor of the church, and in August he was also elected presi- 
dent of the college. February 1, 1872, he resigned the pastorate. On 
the 28th of the same month, Rev. Henry Talbird, D. D., was elected to 
the vacant pastorate, and continues therein at the present time. 

The total amount raised and expended by the church for the year end- 
ng April 1, 1881, was $1,640.35. This church has not been a dollar 
behind-hand at the close of its fiscal year, for ten years past; its finances 
have been managed for fifteen years by Mr. M. F. Royle, treasurer, with 
the same care, promptness, and tact, that men apply to their secular enter- 
prises, and the above noble record is the result. Mr. J. D. New has been 
the church clerk ever since 1866, and has kept his records as systemat- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 443 

ically posted, as if he was a public officer getting a good salary. The 
church now has about two hundred members. Its present officers (1881) 
are: Pastor, Rev. H. Talbird; Deacons, M. F. Royle, H. C. Wallace, A. 
V. Robinson, Dr. T. L. Bolton ; clerk, J. D. New; treasurer, M. F. Royle. 

The Baptist Sunday School was organized in 1841. M. F. Price, was 
the first superintendent, and continued to serve for fifteen years. Then 
James H. Graham, John D. New, M. F. Price, and H. C. Wallace, suc- 
cessively, served short terms, until January, 1866, when M. F. Royle was 
elected to the office, and has served therein ever since. Its officers for 
1881: superintendent, M. F. Royle; assistant superintendent, John W. 
Waddell; secretary, W. L. New; treasurer, W. K. Threlkeld; librarian, 
A. V. Robinson; assistant librarian, C. H. Royle. Average attendance 
about 135. 

The Episcopal Church. From the parish record we quote: "It was 
on Whit-Sunday, in the year of our Lord, 1844, that the Rt. Rev. Jack- 
son Kemper, D. D., first bishop in charge of Missouri, accompanied by a 
missionary, the Rev. St. Michael Fackler, for the first time performed 
divine service in Lexington. The bishop preached on that dav to a large 
congregation. * * On Easter Sunday, A. D., 1845, the parish 
was organized and named the parish of Christ church, Lexington, Mis- 
souri." 

The first wardens were Robert N. Smith, and Paul Reinhard; the first 

vestrymen, Lawson Grant, Daniel C. Relf, Henry Smack, Collins, 

and Foster. Rev. Mr. Fackler was the first rector, and remained 

until Easter Monday, 1847, when he resigned on account of ill health. 
From the parish records we again copy: 

"The corner stone [of their present house of worship] was laid June 30, 
1848, by the Rt. Rev. C. L. Hawks, D. D., bishop of the diocese, in the 
presence of a large congregation — theRev. A. D.Corbyn of Boonville, and 
the Rev. J. A. Harrison, [then rector of this parish] being present and 
assisting. The church was used first for divine worship, the first Sunday 
in Advent, 1848. It was publicly consecrated to the worship of Almighty 
God, on the first Sunday in Advent, 1850, by the Rt. Rev. C. S. Hawks, 
bishop of the diocese; the Rev. A. D. Corbyn, J. W. Dunn, and J. A. Har- 
rison being present and assisting." 

The successive rectors of this parish have been Rev. St. Michael Fack- 
ler, J. A. Harrison, D. G. Estes, G. K. Dunlap, Thompson L. Smith, John 
W. Dunn, and A. T. Sharpe, the present incumbent. The present mem- 
bership is 100. 

The church edifice is a neat and tasteful brick structure, on the corner 
of Main Cross, and Franklin streets, and cost about $6,000. The interior 
finish is entirely of oiled black walnut, with gothic truss roof-arch in 
view. The Sunday school has an average attendance of about fifty pupils 



414 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and ten teachers, with a library of 100 volumes. Wm, F. Kerdolff, is the 
superintendent. 

The M. E. Church, {German) was organized in 1850, by David Huene. 
In 1851, a brick church on Poplar street was bought, [cost not reported.] 
In 1878, this building burnt down, and a new brick building was erected 
in 1879, at a cost of $2,400, and was dedicated on the 17th of August, 
1879, by J. G. Kost. Their pastors have been David Huene, Chas. F. 
Langer, Rudolph Havighorst, J. G. Kost, Siegmund Vogel, Phil. Hehner, 
Constantin Steinley, Philip J. Mai,. Gottlieb Wedmann, John P. Miller, J. 
M. Dewein, J. A. Mueller, F. W. Meyer, Jac. Young, C. Steinmeyer, J. J. 
Eichenberger, C. Mardoff, P. Hehner, Julius Franz, J. H. Asling and 
their present pastor, John C. Demand. Present membership 23. There 
is a Sunday school in connection with the church. U. G. Phetzing, 
superintendent. Library 200 volumes. 

Catholic Church. — The Catholic church of the city of Lexington, Mo., 
was first organized in 1853, and the same year a church building was 
erected, of brick, at a cost of $3,000. It was dedicated by the most Rev'd. 
P. R. Kenrick, archbishop of St. Louis. A new fine large brick church 
was built in 1873, on Third, north of Broadway street, and was dedicated 
in 1876, by the Right Rev'd. P.J. Ryan, of St. Louis. This building was 
destroyed by a wind storm, April 14, 1880, making a loss to the parish of 
$20,000. The first pastor of this charge was Rev. Thomas Cussack, suc- 
ceeded in turn by Rev's. James Murphy, Bernard Donnelly, Daniel Healy, 
Eugene O'Hea, Edward Hamill, O. S. J. Hoog, Thomas Cooney, and 
John J. Lilly, now in charge. The board of directors are: The pastor, 
ex officio president; John Mulligan, secretary; J. J. Lilly, treasurer -pro tern ; 
Patrick O'Malley, and Killian Long. The church was incorporated 
under the laws of Missouri, in May, 1880. The Sunday school was estab- 
lished in 1853; it now has about seventy members, and a library of 325 
volumes. 

The parochial school for catholic children is kept in the church by Rev. 
Father Lilly. 

The Evangelical Trinity church, (German), was organized August 15, 
1877, with Henry Winkler, Henry Hainkel, Henry Wieman, Nicholas 
Sigwart and C. G. Ludwigs constituting a portion of the original member- 
ship. 

The church building which they occupy, is built of brick, and rented 
from the Lexington German school society. The Revs. Drevel and 
Edward Klimpke have been pastors of this congregation, which at the 
present time (1881) has thirty-three communicants. 

The Sunday school connected with this church was organized at the 
time the church was, and consists of about 70 pupils. It has a library of 
about 200 volumes. The pastor superintends. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 445 

CIVIC ORDERS. 

Lafayette Lodge, No. 32, A. F. and A. M. — Organized, June 3, 1840, 
First charter dated, Oct. 8, 1840. It was surrendered Dec. 1, 1866, and a 
new charter issued Oct. 19, 1867, with original name and number. 

The following were the first members, and also the first officers: 

Thomas Benedict, W. M.; Martin Fitzpatrick, S. W.; James C. Mason, 
J. W.; James W. Wetzel, treasurer; Cyrus Osborn, secretary, pro tern; P. 
Phipps, S. D.: C. Osborn, J. D.; Wm. Houx, steward and tyler. 

The present officers are: Zenophon Ryland, W. M.; James P. Hall, 
S. W.; Wm. A. Bethel, J. W.; Thomas J. Banden, treasurer; John E. 
Ryland, secretary; Phillip Keller, S. D.; Jos. Wolf, J. D.; Jacob A. Price, 
tyler. Present number of members, 39. Zenophon Ryland is past grand 
master, and John E. Ryland is past D. grand master. 

Lexington R. A. Chapter No. 10. — Organized February, 1848, by 
John F. Ryland. Date of charter, October 13, 1848. The following first 
officers are all of the charter members reported: John F. Ryland, high 
priest; Howard Williams, king; Cyrus Osborn, scribe; Howard Williams, 
treasurer; John Williams, secretary, John J. Burtis, C. H.; Andrabella 
Dowden, R. A. C; L. S. Cornwell, P. S.; Thomas P. Ashly, M. 3d V.; 
John Wilson, M. 2d V.; Frank H. Goshen, M. 1st V.; John S. Porter, 
guard. 

The present officers are: Phillip Keller, H. P.; C. E. Ballard, K.; Ethan 
Allen, S.; Robert Taulman, treasurer, Xenophon Ryland, secretary; R 
F. Norfolk, C. H.; P. H. Chambers, P. S.; David Rufell, R. A. C.;j[ 
Wolf, M. 3d V.; John B. Blackwell, M. 2d V.; John E. Ryland, M. 1st V.; 
A. J. Hall and O. E. Allstodt, stewards; J. A. Price, guard. Present 
number of members, 36. Xenophon Ryland is Past Grand H. P.; John 
F. Ryland was P. G. H. P., now deceased. 

Lexington Lodge No. 149, A. F. & A. M. — Organized June 4, 1855, by 
L. S. Cornwell, M. W. G. M. The charter members were: O. Ander- 
son, G. A. Kein, J. Vaughn, J. B. Alexander, R. B. Bradford, J. A. Crump, 
D. F. Greenwood, T. Hinkle, W. P. Walton, T. H. Fox, S. Keith, B. P. 
Evans, E. Winsor, Wm. J. Pigote, R. M. Henderson, J. R. Hale, and 
thirteen others; names not reported. The first officers were : E. Winsor, 
W. M.; G. A. Kein, S. W.; R. M. Henderson, J. M.: W. J. Pigote, treas- 
urer; Wm. Cameron, secretary; Smith Keith, 3- D.; T. H. Fox, J. D.; G. 
Clayton, tyler. The present officers are: Henry Sinauer, W. M. ; Geo. 
Hutchinson, S. W.; J. O. Lesueur, J. W.; Henry C. Boteler, treasurer; 
Thomas Standish, secretary; W. G. Eggleston, S. D.; R. T. Jesse, J. D.; 
Robert Hale, S. steward; P. H. Chambers, J. steward; Ethan Allen, tyler. 
Present membership, 63. The hall in which the lodge meets is of brick, 
built by John Aull and Wm. McCausland, and rented of the owners. 



446 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

From April 21, 1862, up to November, 1865, no meetings were held. At 
the latter date the lodge was opened by Grand Master Houston, who 
gave notice that the} r were reinstated, delivered them their charter, and 
instructed them to hold an election of officers, which was held with the 
following result: E. Winsor, W. M.; Jessie Schofield, S. W.; R. Hale, J. 
W.; H. C. Boteler, treasurer; W. G. McCauseland, secretary.; B. R. Tre- 
laun, S. D.; F. B. Hall, J. D.; A. Walk, tyler. 

Itaska Encampment No. 6, 1. O. O. F — Reorganized February 14, 
1868, by Dr. J. F. Hassell, D. D G. P. The charter members were: 
M. W. Withers, Amos Green, J. A. Price, W. W. Laneborn, G. 
W. McKean, John Aull, J. T. Hassell, and J. T. W. McKean. The 
first officers were: M. W. Withers, C. P.; Amos Green, H. P.; J. 
A. Price, S. W.; G. W. McKean, scribe ; John Aull, treasurer. The pres- 
ent officers are: D. W. Fleet, C. P.; C. G. Ludwigs, H. P.; J. M. 
Dicken, S. W.; H. Sinauer, scribe; John Goehner, treasurer. Number of 
present members not reported. Hall is built of brick and rented by the 
lodge. 

Guttenberg Lodge, No. jlj, I. O t O. F— Organized, May 27, 1874, 
by G. W. McKean, D. D. G. M. The following were the charter mem- 
bers: Henry Sinauer, C. H. Schaefermeyer, J. F. E. Winkler, John Joeh- 
ner, C. Georges, J. G. Mehl, John Fritz, W. Siegwart, S. Schneider, N. 

Haerle, J. Kiee, C. Huepper, J. G. Fischer, H. Nagel, Adam Walk, C. 

Mayer. The first officers were: H. Sinauer, N. G.; J. G. Mehl, V. G.; C. 

H. Schaefermeyer, Secreary ; John Goehner, Treasurer. 

Present officers are: J. R. Daehler, N. G.; H. Wilker, V. G.; C. H. 

Schaefermeyer, Secretary; J. F. E. Winkler, Treasurer. This lodge has 

a present membership of 39. Hall is rented. 

Harmony Lodge, No, 87, A. O. U. ^.—Organized Nov. 23, 1878, 

by Wm. R. Sheen, D. D. G. M. W. 

The charter members were: A. Robinson, J. M. Wotawa, J. M. 

Welsh, S. S. Reeder, Ethan Allen, M. G. Williams, S. J. Beeler, C. B. 

Russel, H. Luellan, F. C. T. Brightwell, A. J. Lauchner, J. T. Hill, A. A. 

and J. O. Lesueur. 

The following were the first officers: M. G. Williams, P. M. W.; J. 

0. Lesueur, M. W.; J. M. Wotawa, Foreman; A. V.Robinson, Overseer; 
F. C. T. Brightwell, Recorder; Ethan Allen, Financier; C. B. Russell, 
Receiver; A. J. Lauchner, "Guide; J. M. Welsh, Inside Watchman; H. 
Luellan, Outside Watchman. 

The present officers are: Ethan Allen, P. M. W.; G. K. Smith, M. W.; 
A. V. Robinson, F.; J. T. Hill, O.; R. T. Jesse, Recorder; C. G. Lud- 
wigs, Financier: C. B. Russell, Receiver; C. H. Boyle, Guide; B. F. Hill, 

1. Watchman; James Edelen, O. W. The number of members at present 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 447 

time is forty-five, This lodge rents a hall over the Lexington Savings 
Bank. 

Myrtle Lodge, No. ji; order of mutual protection. Organized Sept. 
30, 1S80, by M. Randall, Deputy Supreme President. The following were 
the charter members: Chas. H. Kid well, H. B. Midlan, Albert Althoff, 
Charles W. Loomis, H. Sinauer, F. K. Threlkeld, S. Sellers, W. C. Hicks, 
J. P. Hansam, Wm. B. Wilson, B. A. Gordon, John Goehner, John Welsch, 
S. O'Conner, C. Watson, John Meng, T. E. Austin, J. B. Burris. 

The first officers were: H. Sinauer, President; W. B. Wilson, Vice 
President; Chas. W. Loomis, Secretary; S. Sellers, Treasurer. Present 
officers: H. Sinauer, President; Wm. B. Wilson, Vice President; Chas. 
W. Loomis, Treasurer; S. Sellers, Secretary. Present membership twenty. 
Hall rented. 

Lexington Turn Verein. — Organized by the Germans, June 15, 1859. 
Their charter dates from Jan. 1, 1860. 

The charter members were: John Kriehn, C. M. Pirner, H. Winkler, 

F. Winkler, G. A. Kriehn, J. Quandt, J. Goehner, G. Gunther, Moses 
Frankel, C. Grandorf, A. Ruble, Aug. Bettin, A. Mark, F. Lisohetki, 
Louis Gillin. The first officers were: Conrad Smith, President, and 
Chris. Schoefermeyer, Secretary. Present membership fifteen. Their 
hall is a fine, two story, brick building, located on Main street, built at a 
cost of $3,500. 

The present officers are: John Kriehn, President, and C. M. Pirner 
Secretary. 

Socialcr Turn Verein. — Organized in 1880. Original members were: 
H. Wilker, C. H. Schaefermeyer, H. Sinauer, Chas. Kreihn, H. Schmidt, 
J. Winkler, Oswald and A. Winkler, Erwin Haekker, J. Hainkel, G. Kist, 
T. W. Haerle, H. Geiger, A. Althoff, J. Kiefer, Wm. Mehl, Aug. Krenp- 
ner, J. Doehler, F. R. Haerle, Gus. Haerle, Jos. Homer, C. Walk, E. 
Schawe, John Fritz, Lorenzo Lestagro, H. Kiefer. 

The original officers were: C. H. Schaefermeyer, President; C. H. 
Kriehn, Vice President; H- Wilker, 1st Turn wart; J. Doehler, 2d T.; H. 
Schmidt, Secretary; Wm. Winkler, Fin. Secretary; H. Geiger, Treasurer. 
The present officers are: C. H. Schaefermeyer, President; H. Keifer, 
Vice President; H. Wilker, 1st Turnwart;J. Winkler, 2d T.; H. Schmidt, 
Secretary; Wm. Winkler, Fin. Secretary; E. Hoekker, Treasurer. Pres- 
ent member fifty-five. Hall is built of brick. 

Knights of Honor. — Lexington Lodge No. 2018 K. of H., was organ- 
ized February 2, 1880, by W. A. Halstead, Deputy Grand Dictator. The 
charter members were: Alexander Graves, J. O. Lesueur, Geo. F. Mait- 
land, P. S. Fulkerson, Ethan Allen, J. W. Rinehart, F. C. T. Brightwell, 

G. S. Rathbun, A. V. Robinson, G. W. Mountjoy, L. R. Harrison, W. 
C. White, T. G. Young, S. M. Harris, George King, J. W. Harrison, S. 



448 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

S. Reeder, J. S. Blackwell, J. D. Connor, A. W. Smith, G. C. Graham, 
F. K. Threlkeld, John D. New, C. H. Royle, James Edelen, M. F. Royle, 
Tames A. Quarles. The first officers were: A. V. Robinson, Past Dic- 
tator^. O. Leseuer, Dictator; J. S. Blackwell, V. D.; G. F. Maitland* 
Asst. D.; S. M. Harris, Reporter; Ethan Allen, Financial Reporter; G. 
M. Mountjoy, Treasurer; John D. New, Chaplain; C. H. Royle, Guide; 
F. C. T. Brightwell, Guardian; James Edelen, Sentinel. At the present 
time (3 881) they have forty members. The present officers are: J. S. 
Blackwell, P. D.; W. G. McCausland, D.; G. F. Maitland, V. D.; F. C. 
T. Brightwell, Asst. D.; R. T.Jesse, Reporter; C. H. Royle, Fin. Repr.; 
D. W. B. Tevis, Treas.; G. L. Leyburn, Chaplain; Geo. Hutchison, 
Guide; Ethan Allen, Guar.; James Edelen, Sen. 

fhe Lexington Liederkranz (singing society) was organized August 26, 
1872, by the following named German citizens, who were also charter 
members: Nicholas Haerle, Chris. Georges, Jacob Fegert, John Daehler, 
Charles Weber, Rudolph Willibald, John Kriehn, August Bettin, Henry 
Blomberg, Moses Frankel, D. Stalling, Joseph Baehr, Albert, Dollinger, 
Andrew Marks, John G. Fischer, Charles Homer, Charles Furstenberg, 
C. G. Ludwigs, H. Pheifer and William Stuck. 

The first officers were Albert Dollinger, President; C. G. Ludwigs, 
Secretary, and John Kriehn, Treasurer. 

The present officers are Henry Winkler, President; C. G. Ludwigs, 
Vice-President; Edward W. H. Ahrens, Secretary, and J. F. E.Winkler, 
Treasurer. 

This society occupies a hall 40x75 feet, on the third floor of Mr. John 
Kriehn's new building, situated near the corner of North and Cedar 
streets. The officers of this society are elected twice a year — at the 
regular meetings in February and August. The newly elected officers 
take their seats at the regular meetings of March and September. Those 
elected for the term commencing September 5, 1881, are as follows: H. 
J. E. Ahrens, President; C. G. Ludwigs, Vice-President; Henry Sinauer, 
Secretary, and J. F. E. Winkler, Treasurer. 

The object of this society is the promotion of German song, customs, 
usages, etc. They keep up at the least, a completely organized " double 
quartette," which, under the leadership of one of the best teachers in the 
West — Prof. Gimbel, Jr., — sings once a week. At various times during 
the season they give concerts, soirees, balls and other amusements, which 
invariably meet with success. 

The society is incorporated and owns propertv valued at $800 — among 
which is a Chickering piano, worth $600. The names of the present 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 449 

members, numbering sixty-five, are here given: C. Georges,* Jacob 
Fegert, Charles Weber, Moses Frankel, Andrew Marks, Charles Homer,* 
C. G. Ludwigs, James Musatti, J. H. Schultze,* Leo. Rupple, Henry 
Sinauer, Aug. Maushund, William Meierer, Frank E. Kriehn, Karl 
Spengler, William Winkler, William B.Steele, Aug. Leppert,G. A. Kriehn, 
George King, Frank Trigg, A. T. Johnson, Louis Patterson, Harry 
Turner, H. [. E. Ahrens, William Mohn,* Robert Davis, A. A. Lesueur, 
John D. Duvall, J. F. E. Winkler, Gust. Kist, M. E. Keller, Morris Gratz, 
Joe Homer, F. Erwin Haecker, M. L. DeMotte, Louis Scheider, Henry 
Wilker, E. Hoffman, E. C. Ballard, Thos. Gosewisch, Sr., E. W. H. 
Ahrens, C. H. Schaefermeyer, Henry Winkler, Nicholas Siegward, 
Edward F. Meyer, Jacob Klee, Albert AlthofFJohn G. Mehl, F. K. Tutt, 
Thomas Dickens, Ferd. Fassbander, August Bettin, Caspar Seelig, L. 
Rostagno, Jacob Thomas, Herman Krause, Thomas Lewis, George 
Marquart, Thomas J. Johns, Peter Coen, William Coen. 

Prof. Charles Gimbel, Jr., Nicholas Haerle, A. W. Smith and John 
Daehler, are honorary members. 

JLexington Fire Cotnftany. — This company was organized January 25, 
1844. B. H. Wilson was the first president, but we found no record of 
the first members. On September 17, 1850, they bought a lot of twenty 
feet on Laurel street, from Henry Flynt, at a cost of $315, and on June 
28, 1852, bought from Wm. Boyce, nine inches fronting on Laurel street, 
at a cost of $67; and the engine house was built On these grounds. This 
building is now used as police headquarters and for city purposes gener- 
ally, the engine having been removed to a small shed in the rear of the 
city calaboose.f In 1858 Elizabeth Aull bequeathed $100 to this com- 
pany. January 4, 1866, the following officers were elected: President, 
J. W. Zeiler; vice-president, Jas. Hays; secretary, Sam '1 S. Earl; trea- 
surer, John Cowie; first engineer, Benj. Marshall; second engineer, S. M. 
Maxey; hose captain, C. R. Clayton; first hose director, G. M. Clayton; 
second hose director, John Mullin; standing committee, B. H. Wilson, J. 
T. Goodbrake, B. T. John, and James McLaughlin. January 31, 1870, 
the following officers were elected: President, B. H. Wilson; vice-presi- 
dent, Jo. A. Wilson; secretary, Jack S. Williams; treasurer, Albert Booth- 
man; first engineer, C. A. Morrison; second engineer, Ed. Kramer; hose 
captain, E. Turner; first director, J. T. Taylor; second director, Wm. 
Kramer; janitor, J. C. Clayton; standing committee, Benj. Marshall, John 
Cowie, J. W. Waddell. 

* The asterisk signifies deceased; but by certain rules of the society the names are 
retained on the list of members, whether deceased or removed from the city. 

fRobert Hale was the first president of thiscompany on its reorganization after the war. 
In 1872 attempts were made to sell the old hand engines and get a steam fire engine. The 
controversy in city council and elsewhere over this matter, resulted in breaking up the fire 
company; and there has been none since. 



450 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

In the old town of Lexington there is an engine house on Clark, 
between Main and Washington streets. In now contains an old fash- 
ioned 12-man-power fire engine, a hose-reel and quantity of hose, all first- 
class, in their day, but now in neglected condition. This house, it is said, 
was built in 1856, by the Sons of Temperance for their own use as a hall. 

August 27, 1867, a board of immigration was organized in Lexington; 
its first officers v\ ere : N. Hearle, president; B. Meyer, vice-president; 
John Quandt, cashier; C. G. Ludwigs, secretary; H. Wilkening, and 
Louis Gillen, subscription committee. E. Quast, agent in Freedom town- 
ship. The meeting was held in Turners' hall. 

There have been in the city, lodges of the orders of Sons of Temper- 
ance, Knights of the Golden Circle, Good Templars, Knights of Pythias, 
and doubtless some others, but we could not get any authencic data in 
regard to them, as they died out years ago. 

Lexington Guards Band. — Originally organized in October, 1876, under 
the name of the Lexington Cornet Band. Reorganized in July, 1881, 
since which time it has been known as the Lexington Guards Band. The 
original members were: Chas. F. Homer, Chas. M. Bennett, Carey Hip- 
son, Henry H. Smith, Dan. B. Carroll, Luther Guard, Wm. L. Bullard, 
Millard F. Graham. 

Following is the name of each present member and the instrument 
which he plays: Charles E. Cors, 1st E flat cornet; Henry H. Smith, 2d 
E flat cornet; Chas. M. Bennet, solo B flat cornet; Charles F. Homer, 1st 
B flat cornet; Dan B. Carroll, 1st E flat alto; George W. Mullenix, 2d E 
flat alto; Martin F. Russell, trombone; Robert B. Berrie, 2d tenor; M. 
F. Graham, E flat bass; M. W. Murphy, bass drum; Wm. L. Bullard, 
snare drum. The present officers are, R. B. Berrie, president; M. F. 
Russell, vice-president; Chas. M. Bennett, secretary; M. F. Graham, 
treasurer. 

In October, 1878, the band purchased a set of Conn & Dupont's cele- 
brated instruments, at a cost of six hundred and fifty ($650) dollars; 
making enough to pay for them the first season. Since June 1, 1881, they 
have purchased an elegant uniform, costing $400. 

Lexington Guards, N. G. M. 1S80. — This military company was organ- 
ized under the state laws, August 30, 1880. Sixty-two names were 
enrolled as charter members. The first officers of the company were: 
Captain, Joseph A. Wilson, 1st lieutenant, F. K. Tutt; 2d lieutenant, A. 
R. Leard; 1st sergeant, W. G. Eggleston; 2d, R. A. Hicklin; 3d,' J. M. 
Crawder. 4th, W. J. Morrison; 5th, T. J. Duling. Ed. W. H. Ahrens, 
company clerk and corporal. 

They secured the third floor of a building, known as Baehr's Cave, a 
room 40x65 feet, for an Armory Hall. The state furnished them with 65 
Springfield rifled muskets, but the company furnished their own uniforms 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 451 

and other outfit, and had their armory provided with gun closets and 
other fixtures suitable tor its purpose. They wear the U. S. uniform, with 
the state buttons. They meet for drill every Thursday night, and have 
target practice twice a month. 

In June, 1881, the Lexington Silver Cornet Band cast its fortunes with 
this military company, and changed their name to Lexington Guards Band, 
whereupon the military company furnished them with uniforms and hel- 
mets. The combined company and band, got up tor 1881 a genuine old- 
fashioned Fourth of July celebration. Speeches were made by X. Ryland, 
Esq., Judge Wm. Walker, A. J. Hall, and Col. McClelland. A sham 
battle and other amusements were also well carried out; and this celebra- 
tion of the national holiday was more generally engaged in by the people 
of the county, than any other since the war. The military company 
cleared $300 by it, after paying $100 expenses, and the whole day's pro- 
ceedings were voted a grand success. 

The company had many difficulties to contend with during the first year, 
in perfecting its organization and securing proper discipline; but now their 
affairs are in good, healthy shape. They have 45 members, uniformed, in 
regular and good standing, thirty of whom were charter members. The 
following is a full list of the company, September 1, 1881: 

Capt. Jos. A. Wilson, First. Lieut. Frank K. Tutt, Second Lieut. John 
A. Bayliss. 

Sergeants. — W. G. Eggleston, William J. Morrison, Edward W. H. Ah- 
rens, Isaac O. Hays. 

Company Clerk. — Edward W. H. Ahrens. 

Privates.— James Aull, C. E. Ballard, Wm. Bolton, J. B. Burris, Rob- 
ert Barnet, William Boothman, David Callahan, J. R. Cather, J. Milton 
Crowder, Edward M. Davis, W. W. Easter, Siegel Fisher, S. F. Grimes, 
John W. Grant, Jr., Samuel Green, Thomas Graddy, Hay Heathman, A. 
J. Hall, J. H. Hall, Thos. J. Hall, Robert Hicklin, Eph. King, W. 
H. Loomis, G. H. Logan, John Limerick, John Morrison, Earnest Mc- 
Causland, Wm. L. New, J. P.Ryland, George L. Schofield, George L. San- 
difer, Charles Sandifer, Robert E. Smith, W. E. Tarlton, E. B. Vaughan, 
Walter Waddell, James D. Ferguson, Pat Lyons. — Total 45. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF LEXINGTON CITY. 

The new State constitution of 1865 established a school system new and 
untried in this State, and its beginnings are therefore historic. The first 
school meeting under the new plan held in Lexington was on September 
8, 1866, and we here quote the official record: 

" Pursuant to notice previously given, and by authority of an act of the 
General Assembly of the State of' Missouri, approved March 29th, 1866, 
the qualified voters of the sub-school district, No. 1, Township 51, Range 
27, in Lafayette county, Missouri, assembled at the school house on Sat- 



452 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

urday, September 8th, 1866, and organized by appointment of Wm. 
Boyce as chairman and John W. Waddell as secretary. The following 
named persons were then put in nomination for the office of School Direc- 
tors, viz: Jesse F. Atkison, Jacob A. Price, Robert Taylor, Edward Win- 
sor. The polls were then opened and forty-one votes were cast. Jacob 
A. Price was declared duly elected director for three years, Robert Tay- 
lor for two years, and Edward Winsor for one year from this date Septem- 
ber 8th, 1866. " 

At a meeting of directors held Sept. 10th, 1866, "as authorized by law, 
Jacob A. Price adminstered the oath of loyalty to Edward Winsor and 
Edward Winsor administered the oath of loyalty to Robert Taylor and 
Jacob A. Price. " At a meeting held at the office of E. Winsor, Sept. 21, 
1866, Mr. F. Ballingall was duly elected to take charge of the school as 
principal and Miss Anna M. Dowden as assistant. The pay of the princi- 
pal was fixed at one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month and that 
of the assistant at forty dollars per month. Then at a meeting held May 
30th, 1867, an estimate was made of the expenses necessary to sustain the 
public schools for four months in the year 1867 as follows: 

FOR WHITE MALE AND FEMALE SCHOOL. 

One male teacher four months $100 00 

One female teacher four months 200 00 

One female teacher one month 50 00 

Repairs on school house 266 00 

Furniture already bought 155 47 

Additional furniture needed 100 00 

Insurance on school house 38 75 

COLORED MALE AND FEMALE SCHOOL. 

One female teacher four months $200 00 

Rent of school house 80 00 

Furniture needed 120 00 

Expenses of collecting tax 100 00 

Township map and apparatus 20 00 

Add for delinquent such as may never be collected 125 00 

Less the Aull school fund 50 00. 

Township school fund 156 41 

An enumeration of the school children was taken by Patrick Jones, as 
follows: 

White males 561 Females 570 Total 1,131 

Colored " 222 " 323 " .545 

Totals 983 893 1,676 

At a meeting June 29th, 1867 an election was held, and the following 
persons were elected a board of directors: For one year, Ethan Allen and 
L. Davis; for two years, M. L. De Motte and John E. Ryland; for three 
years, Edward Winsor and A. H. McFadden. Mr. McFadden was made 
permanent president and E. Allen chosen permanent secretary. John E. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 453 

Ryland was elected treasurer. Mr. Allen has been a member of the 
board from that time to the present — 1881. 

Mr. Wild took a school census of the city in Aprrl 1873, which gave 
the following figures: 

Males. Females. 

White school children 597 726— 1,323 

Colored school children 210 238— 448 

Totals 807 964— 1,771 

The total population of the city at that time, was 4,367. 

Lexington city district takes in a square of one mile each way beyond 
city limits, and this territory is divided into three sub-districts. Sub-dis- 
trict No. 1 has a two story brick school house which cost $6,000, on the 
corner of Forest and Boundary streets, in what is called Irish town. Sub- 
district No. 2 has a school house on Ridgeway street, which was built 
before the war and cost about $5,000. The high school and second ward 
school of the city are both held in this building. It cost less than the oth- 
ers because built when labor and material were very much cheaper. Sub- 
district No. 3 has a school houje on the corner of Mulberry and Franklin 
streets, which cost $6,000. 

A large building on North street, between Main Cross and Franklin 
streets, is rented by the school board for the colored schools. The teach- 
ers of the several schools this year are: High school, principal, Prof. 
George M. Catron; assistant, Miss Nannie Shaw. First ward, principal, 
Miss Nettie B. Wallace; assistant, Miss Birdie Allen. Second ward, first 
assistant, Miss Gussie Keller; second assistant, Miss Jeanie Finley; third 
assistant, Miss Maggie Ryland. Third Ward, principal, Miss Mary H. 
Smith; first assistant, Miss Florence Arnold; second assistant, Miss Ida 
Morath. Colored school, principal, Prof. J. H.Cole; first assistant, Miss 
Nettie Steele; second assistant, Prof. E. G. Cole; third assistant, Mrs 
Fannie B. Cole. 

Lexington German School Society. — Organized September 28, 1865. 
There were 34 of the original members. The first board of trustees 
were C. H. Schueneman, Fredrick Winkler and John Quandt. The 
school run for awhile till the experiment of teaching German in the public 
schools was taken up, when this school stopped. But the experiment 
was soon given up, as the English is the only language recognized by 
the American system of government. The German school was then 
started again, and in 1879 the society bought from the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian congregation, their house of worship on Main Cross street, for 
$2,000; they spent $500 more for seats and other fixtures, and established 
the school here. (The school society rents Sunday use of their building 
to the German Evangelical church). The first teacher of the ^German 



V- 



454 HISTORY OF LAFAVETTE COUNTY. 

school was Prof. C. Gruber. The present teacher is Prof. Doehring. 
Both German and English languages are taught; there have been usu- 
ally 30 to 40 pupils. 

For history of the Wentworth academy and three female colleges of 
Lexington, see chapter on " Schools and Colleges," of this county. 

ELIZABETH AULL's WILL. 

The last will and testament of Miss Elizabeth Aull was the initial 
point of what has since won a state reputation as the " Elizabeth Aull 
Female Seminary;" but in addition to this, that will is one of the distin- 
guishing historic incidents in the annals of the city of Lexington. The 
document comprises no less than forty-five distinct and numbered items of 
bequest. The specified sums in special bequests amounted to $67,700; but 
the entire estate was valued at $150,000, the largest yet recorded in this 
county, except that of Hyman G. Graham, recorded October 30, 1858, 
which was also valued at $150,000. The following list gives all the 
bequests made by Miss Aull, which have a historic or general public 
interest: 

To the "Board of Domestic Missions of the General Assembly 

of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America " $ 5,000 

To Board of Foreign Missions, of the same 5,000 

To Board of Education, of the same 5,000 

To the American Bible Society 5,000 

To the American Tract Society 500 

To the Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Mo 500 

To the Presbyterian Church in New Castle, Delaware 500 

To the Presbyterian Sabbath School of Lexington 200 

To the Lexington Fire Company 100 

Toward founding a female seminary, real estate ($10,000), and 

money ($10,000), amounting to 20,000 

But the conditions of this last bequest were not carried out, and the 
seminary ultimately only obtained a lesser property than that described in 
the will, and $5,000 in money. (See history of "Elizabeth Aull Semi- 
nary," in another place.) «< S *<. 

LEXINGTON ARTISTS AND CONNOISSEURS. 

Prof. Charles Gimbel, of Lexington, is the author of over fifty pieces 
of sheet music, published by reputable houses, in St. Louis, Chicago, 
Philadelphia, New York, etc., and has a national reputation. He is con- 
nected with the Baptist Female college. 

Mrs. Dr. Boulware is wonderfully skilled in worsted work, feather 
work, wax work, etc. Some of her historic pictures wrought in worsted 
almost rival the original oil paintings. She is the instructor in fancy work 
in all three of the female colleges of the city. 

Henry Boothman is a scenic and landscape painter of considerable tal- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 455 

ent. He painted the drop curtain, stage scenery etc., at the opera house, 
and other works elsewhere. 

Charles Teubner's archaeological collection is one of the best (probably 
not below third), private collections of the kind in the United States. 

Dr. J. B. Alexander is a student of science, of wide information, and in 
some branches has attained masterful knowledge of natural laws. 

Joseph L. Thomas is so enthusiastic an amateur scientist, that he has a 
microscope which cost him $1,100 in London. 

Mr. Tevis, the druggist, is collecting a museum of specimens in natural 
history. 

Howard Dunn is a superior civil engineer and topographical draughts- 
man. 

A. W. Smith is an inventor of ready and practical genius, and has 
obtained some very useful patents. 

All the above have given credit to Lexington by their talent and labors. 
There may be others entitled to similar mention but these are all we 
gained knowledge of in this particular line of intellectual and art work. 

Of era House. — This building is built of brick, 40x100 feet, and located 
on the corner of Franklin and Laurel streets. The building was con- 
structed by Mr. Henry Hagen, in the fall of 1879, at a cost of $5,000, 
inclusive of the ground upon which it was built, and the furnishing of the 
building with furniture and scenery was an additional cost of $1,000* 
The building is capable of seating S00 persons Comfortably. The receipts 
of the past year were about $700. This enterprise is solely that of Mr. 
Henry Hagen who is owner and proprietor. 

Lexington Manufacturing Items. — The Morrison foundry at Lexing- 
ton is said to have been the first iron foundry established west of the Mis- 
sissippi river, but no statistics were furnished us concerning its history, 
capacity, etc. 

In 1869, a pottery was started by Messrs. Macey & Morton, in the 
south part of the city, a bed of good pottery clay having been found about 
six miles out southward. The works were accidentally burned down, 
then rebuilt. But the proprietors could not make a financial success of 
the thing, and had to give it up. 

In March, 1867, Schaefermeyer & Peck started a woolen factory, out 
toward the Missouri Pacific depot. It was burned down in August of 
the same year. 

In 1866-7-8, G. W. Baker run a tobacco factory in Lexington, and did 
a good business in manufacturing for market the tobacco raised in Lafay- 
ette and surrounding counties. 

A man named Jordan has an iron foundry in the city, but neglected to 
furnish statistics. 

There is also a pressed brick factory, a vinegar works, a hemp works, 



456 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and the old Morrison foundry, but no statistics were furnished us, after 
due solicitation on our part. Hence their omission is no fault of this his- 
torian. 

The furniture factory of H. and F. Winkler, located on the corner of 
Elm and South streets, Lexington, was established by the above named 
gentlemen in 1856. Up to 1870, the work was principally done by hand, 
but during that year a building 25x50 feet was erected, and machinery 
introduced. Since then, additions have been made, and other buildings 
erected, so that at the present time, 1881 the firm is occupying two build- 
ings for manufacturing purposes, one 130x45 feet, and the other 35x65 
feet. These buildings with their lumber piles etc., occupy four lots 75x140 
feet each. These gentlemen have invested $6,000, in grounds and build- 
ings, $6,000 in machinery, and $12,000 in raw material, making a total 
investment of $24,000. The machinery is run by an engine of 20 horse 
power. Forty-five workmen are employed, and furniture to the amount 
of $50,000, was manufactured during the past year, 1880, and sold in the 
surrounding country. Their office, store and ware house is situated on 
Franklin street, between Cedar and Pine streets. The principal part of 
the lumber used is obtained in this vicinity, such as walnut, ash, bass-wood 
maple, etc. They manufacture all varieties of common household furni- 
ture, and also school desks. 

The flouring mill of W. F. KerdofT, Sr., was established in 1848 by 
Henry Smith, Jesse Raper being miller, and Jim Tandy, engineer. Mr. 
W. F. KerdofT, Sr., is the present owner, and Thomas M. Dicken is the 
present miller, and W. H. Cullum, engineer. The mill is built of brick, 
45x30 feet, and the engine room, 40x30, also of brick. The capital 
invested is, grounds, $5,000; warehouse, $15,000; machinery, $8,000; 
uumbe of hands employed, five; value of Product past year $57,600; 
market, Lexington and St. Louis. 

There is another flouring mill in the city, but no statistics were fur- 
nished. Likewise an elevator. 

Gas Works. — The Lexington Gaslight Company was incorporated, 
July 7,1875, by Tilton Davis, J. S. Ambrose, Charles H. Boyle. Davis 
was made president and Bovle, secretary and superintendent. Capital 
stock, $50,000. The works are located on the corner of Pine and Shaw- 
nee streets, opposite the end of Third street, and consist of the main 
building, brick, 35x35, one story, and containing the gas making 
machinery and apparatus; also the gasometer, 30 feet in diameter and 14 
feet high, capable of holding 11,800 cubic feet of gas. Ambrose and 
Boyle built the works on contract, September 1, 1881; a new company 
bought and took charge of the works, consisting of A. D. Cressler, pres- 
ident; R. R. Dickey, secretary and treasurer and superintendent of the 
works; E. H. Dickey, A. C. Cressler and J. Longdon. The company 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 457 

has now about four miles of pipe laid; has 65 street lamps to serve, and 
on October 1, 1881, had about 90 private customers. The city pays 
$27.50 per lamp per year, one-half payable in city scrip; the colleges are 
furnished with gas at $3.00 per 1,000 feet, and to private consumers it 
is furnished at $4.00 per thousand feeL. The street lamps use 780,000 
cubic feet of gas per year, and private consumers use about 840,000 feet. 
Five hands are employed in operating the works. 

Marble Works were established by John Goehner, May 15, 1867, on 
the corner of Franklin and Laurel streets, where he built a brick building, 
50x20 feet, at a cost of $2,500, inclusive of the grounds upon which the 
building stands; and has the best of tools which cost $100; also has in 
raw material, $500, and employs five hands. The. amount of products of 
the last year was $5,800, which have been chieflv sold in Lafayette, Saline 
and adjoining counties. 

Brewery. — Mr. E. Hoffman established a brewery in the year 1875, 
which is located on Franklin street, numbers 80, 81 and 82. The building 
is of brick 80x65 feet, two stories high. The capital invested in grounds 
and building is, $8,000; in machinery, $200, and at the present time has 
to the value of $300 in raw material. Employs three hands steadily. The 
products of the last year was 1,300 barrels of beer, which was sold in 
Lexington, at $9 per barrel; the government revenue was $1 per barrel. 

Wagon Manufacture. John E. Quandt established a blacksmith shop 
in 1863 and began the manufacture of wagons, manufacturing annually 
about twenty wagons, also doing all the repairing that comes to him, of 
which he has a large amount in that line. He employs from three to four 
hands. The capital invested in grounds is $4,000. The products of last 
year was twenty wagons, which he sold at $70 per wagon at the shop. 
The building is of brick, 40x25 feet. The blacksmith shop is a smaller 
building of wood, on the corner of Franklin and Poplar streets. 

Manufactories in i8jo. — The Lexington Caucasian of September 10, 
1870, contains a summary of the industrial enterprises of the city at that 
time, to-wit: Marshall & Easter, flour and meal; W. F. Kerdoff, the 
same; one woolen factory; Excelsior stove works, by Morrison; Jordan's 
foundry; D. Russell & Co., carriages; J. Cloudsley & Co., the same; 
Nicholson & Hall, wagons, plows, etc; Wilkening, wagons, etc; McFad- 
den, wheat fans; J. S. Morton, earthenware; one soda factory; thiee lum- 
ber mills; one marble yard; three hemp hacklers; three large beer brew- 
eries — Clink & Co.'s not finished yet; three brick yards; ten boot and 
shoe makers; four tin and copper workers; six tailor shops; one furniture 
factory; three cabinet makers; all sorts of blacksmithing. Mr. Farrar is 
trying the experiment of making fire brick. Mr. Morton has made some 
fine terra cottaguttering and piping. Good pottery is made by Messrs. 
Morton &Taylor. 



458 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Coal Works. — The Lexington and Kansas City Coal Company was 
for many years under the presidency of Col. John Reid, of Lexington, 
and was the largest productive industry and business enterprise of the 
city; but we could not get any statistics of its operations. In September, 
18S1, the business passed into new hands, A. A. Talmage becoming pres- 
ident and James C. McGrew superintendent and general business mana- 
ger. The whole business was reconstructed, re-organized, enlarged and 
extended, so that Lexington is now perhaps the most extensive coal min- 
ing town in the state. This company owns the shaft mining works, ope- 
rated by steam hoisting apparatus, in old town Lexington near the Mis- 
souri Pacific railroad depot, and six drift mines in west Lexington which 
open out upon the Lexington and Kansas City narrow gauge railroad. 
Mules are used in all the mines to haul the coal trucks. About 1000 men 
are employed in the mines, and more will be put in as fast as facilities can 
be provided for them to work and men obtained. Some of the miners are 
English, and some Irish, but the majority of them are colored men; they 
receive five cents per bushel for the coal t they get out, and fifty bushels 
is considered a fair average day's work. This company does no retail 
business; its coal is all shipped to Sedalia, Independence, Kansas City, 
and other points, on contract in car-load lots. In addition to his extensive 
operations at his home town of Lexington, Mr. McGrew is also carrying 
on steam power coal works at Camden, in Ray county, on the St. Louis- 
Wabash line of railroad. There he has over 300 men at work, and has 
twenty coal cars of his own, of 500 bushels capacity each, to carry his 
coal from Camden to Kansas City. 

Major Thomas B. Claggett is operating some coal mines about half a 
mile down the river from foot of Pine street. These works have been in 
operation about fifteen years. They are drift mines, of cource, starting 
into the coal vein where it outcrops at the foot of the bluff. From twelve 
to fifteen men are employed here, and their product is sold entirely in Lex- 
ington, to the colleges, and to private consumers. The vein is twenty- 
twn inches, and the output last year was of market value about $3,500. 

A Mr. Bell, and several others, are also operating coal mines for the 
local supply of Lexington, but no statistics were furnished us. And C. 
M. Pirner is sinking a shaft for local-supply coal works, a few rods west 
of the old Masonic College. 

The Lafayette County Bank was established December 28, 1870, by 
Jas. Aull, John Aull, Geo. Wilson, Geo. Wilson, Jr., J. A. Wilson, Maria 
Pomroy and John C. Wood, who were the incorporators. The first offi- 
cers were George Wilson, Sr., president; John Aull, vice president; James 
Aull, cashier, and Jo. A. Wilson, assistant cashier. The present officers 
are George Wilson, Jr., president; Robert A. Wilson, vice president, and 
Jo. A. Wilson, cashier. Capital invested, $28,000. This bank succeeded 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 459 

the banking house of Robert Aull, which was established in 1849, the old- 
est private bank in western Missouri. 

There are also in the city the Morrison-Wentworth bank and the Lex- 
ington savings bank; but they either neglected or declined to furnish us 
with data for a sketch of their history. 

City Finances. — In June, 1865, B. W. Wilson took his seat as mayor of 
Lexington, and in his inaugural address he makes the following state- 
ments: Outstanding debt against the city, $38,486; total revenue for the 
year ending June 1, 1865, $5,678; the city treasurer has paid on bonds, 
$3,756; on improvements and repairs, $715.50; incidental expenses, $969; 
Balance in city treasury, $175. 

Post-Office Business. — The following is the official statement of stamps, 

stamped envelopes and postal cards sold at the Post-office at Lexington, 

during the quarter ending June 30, 1881. 

Denomina- ^r Q Denominations of ordinary 

t'nsofordi jj Amount. No. sold Amount 

narysta'ps. stamps. 

1 cent 6,867 $68.67 30-cent 48 $ 14.40 

2 cent 767 15.34 90-cent 3 2.70 

3 cent 25,967 779.01 Newspaper stamps 10.79 

5 cent 172 8.60 Postage due stamps 16.16 

6 cent 125 7.50 Postal cards-1 cent 14,538 145.38 

10 cent 313 31.30 Postal cards-2 cents 15 30 

15 cent 74 11.10 

Total 48,889 $1,111.25 

Total number of stamped envelopes sold 7,719 

Total amount for stamped envelopes $ 195.85 

Grand total $1,307.10 

H. W. Turner, Postmaster. 

The Lexington Register of July 15, 1869, gives the following account 
of the most destructive windstorm that has ever visited this county: 

"On yesterday (Wednesday,) about two o'clock p. m., our city was vis- 
ited by the most terrific hurricane ever known in this part of the country. 
The oldest inhabitants say that the like has never been seen. For a few 
minutes before the gale began, there was some appearance of rain, and the 
merchants had pretty generally taken the goods from their doors. With 
the first few drops of rain the hurricane began, and at the first onset sent 
the shingles and bricks flying through the streets. It came at the begin- 
ning squarely from the west, and went roaring through the length of Main 
street with frightful results. 

The large three-story warehouse on the levy at the foot of Pine street, 
occupied by Reinhard & Co. and Goodin Bros., was completely unroofed 
and the roof carried a considerable distance up the bluff. The walls are 
considerably damaged; further up, Winsor's hemp factory, partly unroofed; 
McGrew's hemp factory, unroofed. The chimneys to the saw-mills were 



460 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

blown oft and the buildings much injured. Up in the city the house that 
is not injured is an exception. Arcana hall is unroofed; Mr. Easter's res- 
idence, unroofed; Catholic church, partially unroofed and otherwise dam- 
aged; woolen factory of Schaefermeyer & Peck, wholly unroofed and 
walls injured. The south wall of the Virginia hotel was blown down and 
the roof torn off. Schwartz's grocery store, partially unroofed and front 
blown into the street. Residence of H. Turner, Sr., partially unroofed. 
Tevis' building on the corner of Main and Pine streets, occupied by Mr. 
Tevis, druggist, on the first floor, and by the Caucasian office on the third 
floor, was unroofed at the beginning and the roof deposited in the street 
in front of the court house; afterward the upper part of the wall on Pine 
street tumbled in on the Caucasian's type and cases. The hands and pro- 
prietors had made their escape. This, we are informed by the proprietors, 
will not deter the publication of that paper. It will appear on Saturday 
as usual. Eastwood's house was partially unroofed. Haberkorn's stable, 
blown down. A new frame house, near the colored M. E. church, belong, 
ing to a colored man, was blown down. The chimneys of the M. E. church, 
south, were blown off and the cupola partially twisted around. Adam- 
son's and Benning's stables, blown down. A house across the ravine 
belonging to a colored man was blown down. Masonic college, partially 
unroofed; a frame house near by, wholly unroofed. John E. Ryland's 
house, considerably damaged. A timber was carried more than a hundred 
feet and driven through the brick wall of the house, striking Mrs. Findlay 
and breaking her shoulder blade, which, it is thought, will cripple her for 
life. Longdon's house, unroofed; Carroll's and Easter's house, partly 
unroofed; Mrs. Pomeroy's residence was wholly unroofed and otherwise 
damaged. 

Over on Ridgeway street, Mr. Farrar's stable was blown down. John 
Cowie's house unroofed and otherwise seriously injured. Pat. Mitchell's 
house, knocked off its pins and slid down the hill. John Hagood's, twisted 
almost off its foundation. Add to these as many more, and then the out- 
buildings, the porches, the awnings, the chimneys, the signs, the window- 
glass and sash, which were tumbled over and scattered about, and some 
idea can be formed of the extent of the injury. We forgot to state that 
a piece of the roof of the Presbyterian church was blown off and carried 
over the Market house and dropped before Scott's grocery store. We 
think we are safe in saying that one-half of the large trees in the city are 
blown down. Singular though it may seem, fruit trees which in the morn- 
ing were hanging full of fruit, were found, after the hurricane, to be 
entirely stripped of fruits and leaves. 

We take the following report of a very destructive fire, from the Lex- 
ington Register of February 22, I860: 

"Yesterday about two o'clock, the high wind carried the sparks from 




CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, St. LOUIS, Mo. 




GOVERNOR McNAIR'S RESIDENCE, IN 1820. 

THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR OP MISSOURI. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 461 

the smoke stack of Burn's saw mill to the hemp works of J. W. Waddell, 
setting fire to the tow and almost instantly the whole building was in 
flames. The wind drove the flames to the next building belonging to Mr. 
Wamsacus, and the fire being so fierce and rapid, they could save nothing. 
The fire next spread to the Lexington flouring mills owned by Messrs. 
Marshall & Easter, which was burned to the around." 

River Events. — September 21-22, 18S0, a river improvement convention 
was held in Kansas City, in which Lexington was represented by Joseph 
Davis, Col. John Reid, George |S. Rathbun, W. V. L. McClelland, John 
E. Corder, J. O. Plattenburg. The government work to protect the 
north bank of the Missouri river, so as to throw the channel more to the 
south side, and again open the Lexington steamboat landing, is sup- 
posed to be partly an outcome of that convention. 

The Lafayette Advertiser of July 13, 1865, says: "Ten steamboats 
arrived at our wharf last Monday — six up and four down." 

president garfield's funeral — 1881. 

July 2, 1881, the president of the United States, James A. Garfield, was 
assassinated by a wretch named Guiteau. The president lingered in great 
suffering until September 19, when he died. His funeral obsequies were 
observed throughout the United States and it was a historic day in Lex- 
ington. Arrangements had been made for a public procession and memo- 
rial services. The court house, city hall, post office, some of the churches 
and most of the business houses of the city were draped in mourning. 
National flags were suspended across Main street, looped at half mast and 
draped. R. Taubman and Capt. A. A. Lesueur were marshals of the 
day. The procession was headed by the Lexington Guards' brass band, 
of sixteen instruments all draped in mourning; the Lexington National 
Guards, state militia; followed by civil orders — the Odd Fellows' encamp- 
ment and minor-degree lodges; the Lexington Turnvrein (German), Lex- 
ington Liederkranz (musical), the Lexington Land League (Irish), the 
negro orders of Masons, Knights of Tabor and Sons of Protection. 
After the procession memorial services were held in five of the city 
churches, and addresses delivered, as follows: At the Christian church 
by Rev. C. S. Lucas, Hon. Xenophon Ryland and Col. Rathbun. At the 
Baptist church, by Rev. George L. Leyburn, Hon. H. G. Wallace and 
Rev. Dr. Talburd. At the German Evangelical church by Rev. Mr. 
Johns, of Sedalia, and Revs. Klimpke and Demand, of Lexington. At the 
Catholic church by Rev. Father Lilly. At the Zion African M. E. 
church (colored) by Rev. J. A. Quarles, Judge John E. Ryland and Wm. 
Young, Esq. As the deceased president had been a life-long church mem- 
ber and a man of deep and fervent piety, the several choirs had taken 

Q 



462 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

pains to select and sing on the occasion such hymns as were known to 
have been favorites with him in his lifetime, 

COLORED PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATIONS. 

St. "Johns M. E. Church, (colored). — Organized in 1865. The orig 
inal members were: Briston Ragsdale, Howard Inman, Dolly Ragsdale, 
L. Hagood, John Clady, Mary Inman, Neal Davis, Bartlet Martin, D« 
Smith, Fanny Buford, Z. Foster. In 1868 a brick edifice was built at a 
cost of $3,000. Since the organization of this church, the following pas- 
tors have been in charge: Revs. Crawford, J. Flamer, S. Taylor, R. H. 
Smith, A. Lee, H. H. Brown, H. Thompson, J. Dager, L. M. Hazard 
and R. Rush ; the latter being in charge at the present time. The church 
has a present membership of 75. A regular organized Sunday school is 
connected with the church, numbering 72 pupils; superintended by Mrs. 
Mary Turney, assisted by a corps of ten teachers. 

Zion Cha-pel — The African M. E. Church, was organized October 13, 
1867, on College street, in Lexington. The names of the members of the 
iirst organization were: Nelson Coleman, Bettie Langhorn, Edith Wilson, 
Dandrage Johnson, and Daniel Jenkins. The first church building was 
built of wood, in 1867. The building cost $2,000. A new building of 
brick was built in the year 1870, at a cost of $4,000, and was dedicated by 
Bishop T. M. D. Ward, of Anacostia, D. C, July 3, 1881. Their pastors 
have been Revs. S. Washington, James Madison, John M. Wilkerson, J. 
K. Triplette, W. L. Harroad, W. A. Dove, J. C. C. Owens; number of 
membership is 137. Nelson Coleman is the oldest member now alive, and 
is a local minister, and lead the way to the organization. Bettie Lang- 
horn died March 29, 1880, at the age of 103 years. The church is clear 
of debt. They also have a Sabbath school organization, with an attend- 
ance of about 80 pupils, and a library of 260 volumes. The first super- 
intendent was P. R. Coleman; its present superintendent is G. L. Hughs. 

There is a colored Baptist church also; but the pastor neglected to fur- 
nish statistics, although requested to do so. 

Dickson Lodge No. n, A. F. and A. M., instituted by Moses Dickson, 
grand master, January 19, 1869. Charter issued in July of same year. 

The charter members were as follows: James Madison, D. Jinkins, 
George May, George Washington, B. Jackson, C. R.Colman, P.Colman, 
J. Jackson, Albert Walker, Nelson Berry, B. Martin, Jackson Arnold, B. 
Arnold, A. Bailies, Thornton Doniphan, Lewis Johnson, J. McGee, Lafe 
Johnson, A Steele, Geo. Homes, P. Jackson. 

The first officers were: Rev. James Madison, W. M.; D. Jinkins, S. W.; 
Martin May, J. W.; A. Steele, S. D.; Albert Walker, J. D.; Jessie McGee, 
Tyler; C. R. Colman, treasurer; George Washington, secretary. 

The present officers are: Albert Walker, W. M.; H. Gates, S. W.; S. 









HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 463 

Slaughter, J. W.; Hinson Baker, S. D.; H. Colly, J. D.: John Moune, 
Tyler; J. Haygood and J. Hawkins, stewards; Martin May, treasurer; S. 
Lewis, secretary. 

The members at the present time number 36. The lodge meet in a 
frame building, rented for that pui pose. The following are Grand Lodge 
officers: Charles Colman, grand pursuivant; P. Colman, grand steward; 
Albert Walker, grand S. D.; James Madison, grand chaplain. 

The following deaths have occurred among the members of this lodge 
since its organization, the funeral services have been conducted under its 
auspices: George Washington, Alexander Poindexter, Wm. Martin, and 
George Walker. 

The colored people have several other organizations of their own, as 
•* Knights of Tabor," "United Sons of Protection," etc., but no reports 
were furnished. 

A few years ago they had a fine brass band, well equipped and well 
drilled, but the members nearly all moved away. They started another 
band in September, 1881. They also have a musical institute. 



MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP. 

The first public record found of the name of Middleton occurs under 
date of July 7, 1845, when James Pearman petitioned for a license to keep 
a dram shop in the town of Middleton, in Lafayette county, in the house 
owned by David K. Palmer. The county clerk was ordered to " issue a 
license authorizing the said James Pearman to keep a dramshop at the 
place aforesaid for six months from this date, upon the payment of the 
sum of $25.00 as a state tax and $18.75 county tax, and the ad valorem 
tax on the sum of $126.75, the amount of his stock subject to this tax." 
This item is of historic interest, as showing the liquor-license system in 
vogue at that time. 

The next mention of Middleton is September 7, 1847, when it occurs 
incidentally in a petition for a road which was to " commence at the state 
road leading from Boonville to Lexington at or near where the said state 
road crosses the county line between Lafayette and Saline county, to run 
thence in a northwesterly direction to the town of Middleton, etc. But on 
July 1st, 1850, this town of Middleton had its name changed to Waverly; 
its boundaries were much enlarged, and it became an incorporated vil- 
lage. The petition for incorporation was signed by Charles M. Cowan 
and thirty four others, claiming to be more than two-thirds of the tax- 
paying inhabitants of the village. David Callahan, Lewis Fairchild, 
Elisha M. Edwards, Charles M. Cowan, and Alexander Skillen were 
appointed as the first board of trustees of the new corporation. 



464 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Middletonians are happy or not. The boundary lines of the new town- 
ship were established as follows: " Commencing where the range line 
between Ranges No. 24 and 25 intersects the Missouri river, thence south 
with said range line to where the same intersects the township line 
July 4th, 1848: hence its birthday will always be celebrated, whether the 
But Middleton Township was born into this world of tribulation on 
between townships 49 and 50; thence east with said township line to 
Saline county; thence with the boundary line between Saline and Lafayette 
counties, north to the Missouri river; thence up said river with the mean- 
ders thereof to the place of beginning." And these boundaries have not 
since been changed. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

As far as reported, the first settlers who appeared in this neighborhood 
were Alexander Galbraith, from Kentucky, who purchased 200 acres of 
land on Sections 22 and 14, Township 51, Range 24; a Mr. Dustin who 
located on Section 24; John D. Thomas, from Kentucky, Littleberry Estes 
and Washington Shroyer, who settled near by. The first female child 
born in this settlement was Susan Estes, daughter of Littleberry Estes. 

The first death which occurred was that of Mrs. Hugh Crawford, 
who was buried in the Estes grave yard. Dr. Buck, who died in 
Arkansas, was the first regular physician. The first minister, is reported 
to have been S. Bradley, of the Christian denomination. 

The first school is asserted to have been taught in a church • (of which 
no other mention is made) by a Mr. Dillard, who now resides in Grain 
Valley. The tuition was $2.50 per scholar. The first weaving was done 
by Mrs. Alexander Galbraith. 

Previous to the coming of Dr. Buck, the nearest physician was at Lex- 
ington, twenty miles away. 

WAVERLY, 

is situated in the northern part of Middleton township, on the Missouri 
river, and was founded in 1845, by Washington W. Shroyer. It was 
originally known as " Middletown," and its present name was adopted in 
1848. David Callahan was president of the first board of trustees. In 
1854, a man named Thomas purchased some land adjoining the city on 
the east, and laid out a town, which he called St. Thomas. Mr. Thomas 
died shortly after the war, and St. Thomas was annexed to Waverly. It 
was incorporated July 1, 1850, and Judge Wm. Thomas was elected the 
first mayor. The petition for incorporation was signed by Charles M. 
Cowan and thirty-four others, tax-payers of the town. David Callahan, 
Lewis Fairchild, Elisha M. Edwards, Charles M. Cowan, and x^lexander 
Skillen were appointed as the first board of trustees of the new corpora- 
tion. The first house was built by David K. Palmer, and has since been 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 465 

washed away by the angry waters of the Missouri. He also owned the 
first store. In 1S46, a frame school-house was built, at a cost of $140, 
which was also used for church purposes. The first religious services 
were held in this house, conducted by the Rev. Roth — Missionary Baptist. 
Mrs. Susan Shroyer taught the first school, which consisted of about twen- 
ty-two pupils, at a salary of $30 per month. The first wedding occurred 
in about i849, the high contracting parties being John Morrison and Miss 
Lucy Shroyer. In 1835, Jacob Shroyer, son of W. W. and Jane V« 
Shroyer, was born ; he being the first male child born within the city limits* 
Lucy Shroyer, born of the same parents, in 1833, was the first female child" 
The first death was that of an infant child of John Marshall. The first 
regular physician was Dr. P. H. Chambers, a native of Kentucky, who 
now resides in Lexington. The first cemetery, which is still in use, is 
located in the southeastern part of the town, on section 15. The present 
officers are as follows: Mayor, John E. Corder; councilmen, C. Krous, 
W. H. Landrum, A. S. Van Anglen, Judge W. H. Thomas, H. I. Chris- 
man, and John L. Oliver. 

The Carriage Manufactory, of the Landrum Bros., is located on Wash- 
ington street, and was established by them in 1873. The wood-work and 
blacksmithing department is 50x40; the painting and trimming depart- 
ment, 20x70, and the carriage repository, 26x75, is built of brick. Cap- 
ital invested in grounds and buildings, $2,500; capital invested in machin- 
ery, $1,500; capital invested in incidentals, $1,920; total, $5,920; number 
of employees, 7. 

In 1869 or 1870, a paper called the Waverly Express was published at 
Waverly, first by Chas. Patterson, then a Mr. Frazee, who was joined, in 
September, 1870, by W. H. Peters, from Illinois. It appears to have been 
democratic; but no further particulars were obtained. 

Waverly Lodge, No. 114, was organized by Judge John F. Ryland, 
under dispensation dated June 15, 1849. The following were the first 
officers: Henry B. Harvey, W. M. ; Michael Stevenson, S. W.; G. W. 
Hereford, J. W.; W. W. Shroyer, treasurer; John S. Nowland, secre- 
tary; A. Franciscoe, S. D.; J. M. Lewis, J. D.; Joseph W. Cloudsley, 
tyler. Surrendered their charter January. 28, 1860, on account of war 
troubles, and were never rechartered. 

Waverly Lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M. — Organized under dispensa- 
tion dated June 26, 1865, instituted by the grand lodge. The charter 
bears date of June 2, 1866. The original members and first officers were 
as follows, viz: E. M. Edwards, W. M.; C. M. Cowan, S. W.; G. W. 
Hereford, J. W.; R. D. Cauthron, S. D.; A. D. Ellis, J. D.; H. B. Lewis, 
treasurer, and M. C. Scott, Tvler. The present officers are: C. C. 
Catron, W. M.; W. P. Milnor, Jr., S. W.; W. A. Redd, J. W. The 



466 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNT V. 

present membership is fifty-five. J. B. Wood is steward of the Grand 
Lodge. Nothing further reported. 

Order Eastern Star. — Bethany chapter, No. 109, O. E. S., was instituted 
by H. G. Reynolds and G. W. Patron. The date of charter was July 28, 
1875. The first officers were: J. B. Wood, W. P.; Mary Hawkins, W. 
M.; Willie A. Wood, Assistant M. 

The present officers are: J. B. Wood, W. P.; A. E. Galbraith, W. M.; 
M. E. Gordon, secretary; M. E. Loper, treasurer; K. T. Kooper, Cond.; 
M. A. Wood, Ass't. Cond.; E. Smiley, Ada; E. P. Pelot, Ruth; R. Nor- 
fleet, Esther; Fanny Edwards, Martha; Bertie Thomas, Electa; Laura 
Landrum, Warden; R. C. Allen; sentinel. The present membership is 
seventy-two. Have a brick building in which they hold their lodges. 
M. A. Woods, M. E. Hawkins, and M. E. Galbraith are members of the 
grand lodge. 

Middleton Local Aid Society was organized July 15, 1881, by Frank K. 
Doan. The names of the charter members are as follows: John S. Webb, 
L.J. Webb, Elder W. H. Blanks, B. F. McCord, A. McCord, Dr. Geo. 
O. Feagans, Davis S. Miller, Rev. J. M. Scott, J. M. Horler, M. E. Deth- 
rige, John D. Masterson, William Blankinship, F. W. Pauling, J. W. 
Zook, and Moses Greenbaum. The officers are: J. T. Webb, president; 
J. M. Horler, vice-president; David S. Miller, secretary; A. McCord, 
treasurer; George O. Feagans, medical examiner; B. F. McCord, deputy; 
J. M. Scott, . 

The town of Alma was founded by Captain Lysing and Jno. W. Wood- 
son, on completion of the C. & A. Extension railroad in 1879, and incorpora- 
ted in 1880. The first mayor was Dr. Thomas Field. The postoffice 
was established in 1879, the first postmaster being Perry Catron. Dr. 
Field built the first house and owned the first store. The first school- 
house was built in the summer of 1880, at a cost of $750. The first school 
was taught by Miss Cassie Bascom, the number of pupils being thirty- 
five, at a compensation of $45 per month. The first marriage was that of 
H. C. Clay to Miss Milburn, and was performed at Thomas Luke's, and 
by Thomas Luke, who was the first justice of the peace. The first male 
child born in the town of Alma was Mitchell, son of Geo Weston, and the 
first female child was Katie, daughter of William and Martha Buck, born 
in June 1879. Dr. Thomas Field was the first regular physician in Alma 
— since moved to Sedalia. The present town officers are: Stark, mayor; 
Martin Buck, Wm. Doblie, and Charles Mayviers, town board. The 
town is about equally divided between orignal Piatt & Corder's addition 
andjording's addition. 

Three Groves Church was organized about the year 1871. The original 
members were Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Hoard, Geo. Nethercutt, and some 
others. The church building was erected in 1880-81 ; it is of frame and 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 467 

cost $1,500. It was dedicated the first Sunday in May, 1881, by Rev. W. 
B. McFarland. Their pastors have been R. A. Shaffer, W. I. Brown, 
and W. B. McFarland. The present membership numbers forty. In 
connection with the church they have a fine Sunday-school. 



SNIABAR TOWNSHIP. 

The name Sinabar has a peculiar history. If any one will look at a 
map of Lafayette county, they will discover a large bay protruding into 
Clay township, making the eastern boundary of a peninsula about four 
miles deep. Tradition says: A trader or hunter named Herbert, in 
going up the river followed this bay clear to its head, supposing it to be 
the main body of the Missouri river, and he was greatly bewildered for 
awhile, and delayed in his trip by this misadventure. The incident becom- 
ing known, the early navigators and trappers had many a laugh at Her- 
bert's expense; they called this bay Reviere cT Herbert, or "Herbert's 
river, " as a standing joke, and it became a waymark in designating places 
and distances on the great stream. But afterward a Pennsylvania Dutch 
word Schuyte, (English Shute, German Schnitt from Schneiden, to cut) 
was introduced here by keelboatmen from the region of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania. They mixed the Dutch and French words, and made Schuyte d 7 
Herbert, then Shuyte 'Eber, then Schuyte 7 Aber, and finally Snyabar — 
each successive change or corruption being to shorten the name and 
make it easier to pronounce— in a word, to westernize it, and this culmin- 
ates in the one easy syllable, Sni. The above is the etymological evolu- 
tion of the name Sniabar, or Sni, as it stands to-day applied to the town- 
ship of that name, and the two main creeks within the township. But 
historically, those streams have had other names. 

The old French maps prior to the year 1800, mark the great bend or 
bay which protrudes into Clay township as Reviere d 7 Herbert — Herbert's 
river . 

In 1804, Lewis and Clark refer to the two streams entering the Mis- 
souri at this point [Big and Little Sni] as Ean Beau — elegant water. 

In 1823, Dr. Beck's Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri calls it Chenal 
Ebert — Ebert's channel, a mere variation of Herbert's river as above. 

In 1823, also, Lieut. Long, the explorer after whom Long's Peak in Col- 
orado is named, calls our two streams little Cheny an Barre and great 
Cheny an Barre. This is manifestly only his attempt to spell the name 
as then pronounced— Sche-nye-an-Bair, the "Pennsylvania Dutch" leaven 
being then well at work in the long cooking of this name. In this same 
year (1823), the official records of Lillard — now Lafayette county, spell it 
Sny E. Bairre. 



468 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

In 1835, Mitchell's geography map of Missouri marks it Chenal aux 
Herberts — the channel of Herbert, another mere variation of the original 
French name. 

In 1837, Wetmore's Gazetteer Missouri names the Little Schnyte Aber 
and Big Schuyte Aber, in Lafayette county. Dutch again. 

In 1851, Colton's map of Missouri spells it Big Snybar creek. 

In 1872, Prof. Pumpelly's geological survey report spells it Sniabar \ 
so also Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, 1872; indeed, that is now the 
settled Anglicized orthography of the name, without any hyphens, apostro- 
phes, periods, spaces or intermediate capital letters to give it an "awfully 
foreign" look. They are all mere affectation, without a spark of meaning 
that any body can swear by. 

Two considerable creeks empty into the Schenye or false river, and so 
they were called Big Sni and Little Sni creeks; one of the earliest settle- 
ments in the original Cooper county, was on these creeks, and widely 
known as the Sniabar settlement, then Sniabar township, first in Cooper 
county, next in Lillard county, and lastly in Lafayette county. 

May 4, 1824, Fort Osage township was set off from Sniabar township, 
which had prior to this extended to the west line of the state. The line 
then established between the new and the old township was the Big Sni- 
abar. creek from its mouth to its source, near where Chapel Hill now 
stands, thence south in a straight line to the Osage river. 

The first mention of Sinabar township in the old county records occurs 
under date of April 24, 1821, the county being still called Lillard. The 
record says: " It is ordered by the court that Markham Fristoe be ap- 
pointed constable in and for the township ot Sinabar for the term of two 
years." He was placed under bonds "in the penal sum of $1,200, " and 
bondsmen were Benjamin Gooch and James Bounds, Jr. But prior to this, 
to-wit: November 22, 1820, the Governor had commissioned Henry Ren- 
ick, St\, David McClellan and Abel Owen, as justices of the peace for 
Sniabar township then in Cooper county. January 21, 1821, 'Squire Ren- 
ick swore in Abel Owen as a justice of the peace for Sniabar township, 
Lillard county; but just how he himself got bridged over from Cooper to 
Lillard county the record does not show. However, the next day he swore 
into office the justices of the first county court, which was held at Mount 
Vernon, near the mouth of Tabo creek. 

July 24th, 1821, Abel Owen and Henry Renick were appointed to lay 
off the roads in Sinabar township into districts convenient for their proper 
care. And at the February term, 1822, of the county court, the following 
road district overseers were appointed for this township: 
1st road district, Richard Fristoe, overseer. 
2d road district, Jonathan Hicklin, overseer. 
3d road district, Abner Graham, overseer. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 469 

4th road district, James Rathwell, overseer. 

5th road district, Ira Bidwell, overseer. 

6th road district, John Demasters, overseer. 

The first mention of an election in Sinabar township is July 9, 1S22, 
when Julius Emmons, David Ward and Thos Swift were appointed by the 
county court to be judges of an election to be held at the place of preach- 
ing near Henry Renick's. This election took place in August, and Jesse 
Hitchcock was elected constable. 

February 3, 1823, the name of Sniabar is spelled thus — Sny E. Bairre; 
and the following record occurs: "We this day allot the within named 
hands to cut out and keep in repair a road leading from Lexington to in- 
tersect the road leading from Jack's Ferry to the salt works, near Jacob 
Catron's. 

Henry Renick, J. P. 
Abel Owen, J. P." 

The men thus appointed were: George Stevens, Josiah Nelson, George 
Nelson, Thomas Nelson, John Stapp, Thomas Swift, Dean Swift, James 
Barns, Wm. Robinson, Alfred K. Stevens, Melvin Vinning, Walker 
Atkinson, Amos Riley, Harry Owen, Neely Owen, Robert Fristoe, 
Markham Fristoe, Wm. Horn, Jr., John Norris, Abner Norris, Archibald 
Steward, James Drummond, Wilson Owen, Urial Murray, Francis Read, 
ing, Calvin Howell, John McCord and Andrew Patterson. 

John Nelson was appointed -overseer for this road and the above list of 
men who were required to work on it. The list seems to give some idea of 
the extent of the settlement at that time, and 4 to show who they were. Many 
of their descendants still live in the county. 

Lexington township was organized May 4, 1824, and west of that was 
Sniabar township. On the 7th of November, 1825 Clay township was 
organized and its boundaries as then defined embraced all there was left of 
Sniabar township, so this name dropped out from the list of municipal town- 
ships of Lafayette county, and ,vas not heard of again until February 5, 
1838 — a long sleep of thirteen years. But at that time it was ordered by the 
county court that a new township to be called Sniabar should be bounded 
thus: -'Beginning at the northwest corner of Washington township 
[This is a mistake*] thence west with the township line between town- 
ships 48 and 49 to the Jackson county line; thence south with said line to 

♦Here is a mistake in the description of this new township's boundary line, and we 
could not find any record to show that it had ever been formally corrected. The township 
line between congressional townships 49 and 50 had been fixed as the boundary between 
Lexington and Washington townships — and therefore the "northwest corner of Washing- 
ton township" would be on this line, and would leave for Clay township only the 
ragged edges of two fractional congressional townships; but the description should read 
thus: "Beginning at the west line of Washington township where it intersects the town- 
ship line between townships Nos. 48 and 49: thence west," etc. This would give the 
true boundary of Sniabar township as it has been in practice ever since that township was 
recreated notwithstanding the verbal error in the record as above noted. 



470 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

the northwest corner of Johnson county, thence east with the county line 
to the southwest corner of Washington township; thence north to the 
place of beginning. 

An election was ordered to be held at Riding's store, the first Saturday 
in April next (1838) to elect two justices of the peace. 

Local Names. — A good many of the local names of things in Sniabar 
township were given by an old pioneer hunter, named Thomas Hopper. 
He killed an extra big buck elk on top of a high knob, and called it Buck 
Knob, which name it bears to this day. The name of Wagon Knob 
occurred in this way: Mr. Hopper and one or two others had obtained a 
wagon load of wild honey near the stream called Honey creek, in Wash- 
ington township, which he named therefor, and on the road home the 
wagon broke down while they were crossing a knob; they packed as 
much of the honey on their horses as they could, and left the wagon 
there till it rotted away; and that place is called Wagon Knob to this day. 
The same man named "Texas Prairie," but just why is not known. He 
also named Peavine creek, in Freedom township it is said. 

War Children. — Sergt. J. L. Leadbeater, of Capt. Simpson's com- 
pany, in Gen. Jo. Shelby's command, says Sniabar township furnished 
125 confederate soldiers; 38 were killed and 10 died of disease. All were 
married men except two, and in 1876 there were, in Sniabar township, 
125 children of those confederate soldiers. Sergt. Leadbeater is blind and 
lives in the vicinity of Mt. Hope. 

CHAPEL HILL. 

The school founded by A. W. Ridings, in the year 1843, was the begin- 
ning of Chapel Hill. He began with three scholars, but soon grew to 
a large boarding school, occupying a stone building, 40x60 feet, and two 
stories high. At the beginning of the war the school was nourishing, 
with 150 scholars. During the war, in 1862, it was burned by an 
unknown incendiary. In the fail of 1863 the village of Chapel Hill, con- 
sisting of about thirty houses, was burned by Quantrell's men, except two 
buildings, which were afterwards burned by accident. Up to that time 
there was no church organization except the Cumberland Presbyterian, 
who used the college building. The village has since been rebuilt, and 
consists of about thirteen residences, three stores, one blacksmith shop, 
three physicians, one church, one masonic lodge and a grange lodge. The 
village is situated on the Sni hills, which extend for a considerable distance 
to the north and northwest. The place was named by Mr. A. W. Riding 
after Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at which college he was educated. 
The first post office was kept by Mr. Shores in section 35, on the farm 
now owned by Mr. A. Wilkinson. 

The Chapel Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 471 

1870, and is situated in section 31, township 18, range 28. The names of 
the original members were: Wm. Rasdell, John Phillips, John Cobb, N. 
Wood, John Barnett, Wm. Barnett, Nat. Barnett, F. E. Barnett and B. 
R. Harmon. The church building is used by them in common with the 
Baptist and Methodist. The name of the pastor is the Rev. J. B. Dalton. 
At present it contains thirty-five members. 

Chapel Hill Masonic Lodge, No. jjo, is in Sniabar township, and the 
date of its dispensation is 1870. The names of the charter members were: 
John McClure, John W. Wilkinson, Dr. F. M. Shore, R. Edmondson, D. 
G. Doty, F. E. McCormack, A. J. Lyon, B. E. Phillips and John W. 
Bledsoe. Names of the first officers: J. H. McClure, W. M.; F. M. 
Shore, S. W.; J. W. Wilkinson, J. W.; D. G. Doty, treasurer; J. 
W. Bledsoe, secretary; F. E. McCormack, S. D.; A. J. Lyon, J. 
D.; R. Edmondson, tyler. The present membership of the lodge is 
18. The hall is a frame and was built in 1S69, at a cost of $500. There 
was a lodge at this point before the war, but during the war it was robbed 
of its charter and jewels by federal troops. The present lodge has been 
chartered since the war. 

Chapel Hill Grange, was instituted on the 16th of August, 1873. The 
following are the names of the charter members: J. T. Leawell, J. C 
Cobb, F. E. Barnett, Isaac Wood, J. T. Dade, E. S. Garm, Wm. Harris, 
W. S. Leawell, J. F. Wood, J. H. Truell, A.J. McCauley, A. C. Green, 
T. B. Murray, J. H. Wood, Matt. Wood, R. H. Leawell, Bettie Leawell, 
L. J. Headrick, Adam Smith, and Lucretia A. Meadow. 

Names of first officers: J. C. Cobb, master; J. T. Leawell, overseer; W. 
P. Leawell, lecturer; Judge Barnett, treasurer, aud T. D. Murray, secre- 
tary. The present officers are: J. A. J. McCauley, master, Wm. Harris, 
overseer; Charles T.;Williamson, lecturer; Judge F. G. Barnett, treasurer; 
Thomas L. Cheatham, steward. The present membership of the grange 
is 11. The grange has its meetings in the district school house. 

THE TOWN OF ODESSA. 

(Named by T. B. Blackstone, president of the C. & A. R. R.) 
This city is located on the west side of the C. & A. R.R., IS miles west 
from Lexington, and 11 miles from Higginsville, surrounded by a good 
farming country. It was founded by A. R. Patterson, and John Kirk- 
patrick, July 15, 1878, and was incorporated February 3, 1880. The first 
mayor was H. B. Tunstall. The first postoffice was established July, 
1879, with M. V. Powell as postmaster. The first house was built by 
Reid and Taylor. The first store was owned by Wm. F. McKinnev. 
The first school house was a frame building erected in September, 1880, 
at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Miss Annie Anderson, 
in 1879, with 25 pupils; at the rate of $1.25 per capita, per month. The 



472 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

first male child was born September 19, 1878, Odessa L., son of George 
and Mary Cregger. First female born April 11, 1879, Mary M., daugh- 
ter, of Wm. T. and Matilda J. Worley. The first death was that of David 
Lay, February 9, 1879, was killed while passing between cars and was 
buried in Greenton cemetery. The first regular physician was Dr. L. C. 
Nichols, of Mount Hope, formerly of Kentucky. The first religious ser- 
vice was held in Gibb's Hall, by the Christian denomination, and the first 
minister was Alex. Barton, of the Baptist church. The present officers of 
the city are: E. D. Rawlings, mayor; L. R. Smith, H. B. Tunstall,D. C. 
Baggerly, A. W. Stevens, councilmen ; Norborne Walton, marshal; Robert 
Broughton, treasurer; James Broughton, assessor; and D. C. McConnell, 
clerk. The official report of the census in 1880, gives the city 100 inhabit- 
ants, but now it is held as having about 800. The city contains the follow- 
ing business places: 

Dry goods, 3; dry goods and groceries, 2; groceries, 4; hardware, 2; 
Hotels, 2; restaurants, 2; furniture stores, 2; milliner stores, 2; sewing 
machine dealer, 1 ; banks, 1 ; drug stores, 4; clothing store, 1 ; livery stables, 
2; jewelry store, 1; shoe shops, 2; saddle shops, 2; barber shops, 2; eleva- 
tor, 1 ; physicians, 6 ; newspaper, 1 ; lumber yard, 1 ; butcher shop, 1 ; black- 
smith shop, 2; dentist, 1; saloons, 2; mills, 1; carding machine, 1. 

Mr. E. H. Chapman, of Kansas City, has recently erected and placed in 
operation, a steam saw mill in the timber, about three and a half miles 
northeast of town, in the vicinity of Judge Prather's farm. Mr. I. N. 
Stanfield, formerly of Glasgow, Mo., does the sawing by contract. Dur- 
ing the past month has cut over 4,000 feet per day; employs 15 men and 7 
teams, and is making a pay roll of over $250 per week, most of which 
adds to the business of the town. 

Bank of Odessa. — The Bank of Odessa was incorporated June 8, 1880, 
chartered July 19, and began business July 28th of same year. The fol- 
lowing is a list of 

Officers.—]. C. Cobb, President; L. R. Smith, Cashier, and M. G. Wood, 
Secretary. 

Directors.— L. R. Smith, J. C. Cobb, Wm. Harris, J. E. Wagoner, J 
W. Martin, M. G. Wood, G. A. Campbell, G. S. Kesterson, B. W. Way- 
man, A. R. Patterson, W. T. Cheatham and S. W. Creasy. 

Following is the official statement of the financial condition of the Bank 
of Odessa, April 30th, 1881: 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 473 
RESOURCES. 

Loans undoubtedly good on personal collateral security $35,175 03 

Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security. 19,090 00 

Over drafts by solvent customers 37 46 

United States bonds on hand 000 00 

Other bonds and stock at the present market prices 000 00 

Due from other banks, good on sight draft 1 7,617 43 

Real estate at present cash market value 3,597 18 

Furniture and fixtures 795 70 

Checks and other cash items . 1,621 32 

Bills of national banks and legal tender U. S. notes 6,410 00 

Gold coin 310 00 

Silver and other fractional coin and currency 512 23 

Exchange maturing and matured 200 00 



Total $85,366 35 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $10,000 00 

Surplus funds on hand 5,254 74 

Undivided declared dividends 000 00 

Deposits subject to draft at sight 67,861 61 

Deposits subject to draft at given dates 2,250 00 

Due other banks and bankers 000 00 

Expenses now due 000 00 



Total ..$85,366 35 

The Hopewell O. S. Presbyterian Church, at Odessa, was organized 
September 14, 1850. The original members were: John H. Allison, 
Eliza Bledsoe, Sarah Bullard, C. D. Copp, S. S. Cornwell, Nancy David- 
son, John Jackson, Clarinda Jackson, James M. Keith, Thomas Lee, Mary 
Lee, Elizabeth Lee, Ann Mary Lee, Elizabeth Keith, Nathaniel C. and 
Rebecca Maxwell, Mary M. Chesney,Jane Patterson, John B. and Ada- 
line Taylor, H. and Lena Young. 

The first church building was erected in 1854 at the village of Mt- 
Hope. During the late war it was burned, and was rebuilt in 1867. In 
1880 the building was taken down and removed to Odessa. 

The pastors who have been in charge are the Reverends Thomas A. 
Brachen, David Coulter, William A. Bagley, Joseph W. Wallace, James 
Morton, J. E. Latham, B. N. Hobson, and Samuel T. Kuffner, who occu- 
pies the pulpit at present. The present membership is fifty-one. 

Odessa Baptist Church, originally Mt. Hope church, changed August, 
1879. It was organized August 25, 1874. Original members: Ann Bird, 
Hannah Barker, J. B., Nancy, M. E., Thomas W., and Rev. James L. Car- 
michael; Winifred Burns, Virgil, Samantha, r.nd Mattie E. Halsell, Viola 
Hatch, Richard Y. Nichelsen, Milton, Mary, Ida B., and Dora M. Smith; 
Mary J. Starr, Lucinda McClure, Geo. W., and Elizabeth Wheeler. The 



474 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

chnrch is frame and was built in 1878, at a cost of $1,450. The church 
was dedicated August 29, 1880, by the late Rev. Isaac N. Newman. 
Their pastors have been: Geo. W. Smith, 1874; D. C. Bolton, 1875; J. B. 
Jackson, 1876; I. N. Newman, 1877; Henry Barton, a short time in 1878; 
J as. L. Carmichael, 1878; L. Ellege, 1879; Alex. Barton, 1879; W. T. 
Russell, 1881, the present pastor. Present members number eigty-seven. 
Revs. Newman and Barton were supplies only for a short timt each. 
The regular Baptists own a one-fourth interest in the building. Milton 
Smith, T, W. Carmichael, Thos. W. Gott, trustees, Thomas W. Car- 
michael, clerk. They have an interesting Sunday-school, organized in 
April, 1880; Thomas W. Carmichael, superintendant. 

Christian Church, of Odessa, was organized in 1879. [Names of origi- 
nal membership not given.] The church was built in the spring of 1880, 
of brick, at a cost of $2,000. The church was never dedicated. Their 
pastor is now Elder W. R. Cunningham, the only pastor they have had. 
The membership is about 100. The Odessa congregation was organized 
by the union of a portion of the Mt. Hope and Greenton congregations; 
about 100 members went into the organization. 

The Odessa Class, M. E. Church South, was organized in February, 
1880. The original members were: Mr. J. McDonald, J. W. Wood, N. W. 
Todd, E. D. Rawlings and wife, Mrs. Hillock, Mrs. Cynthia Reid, Rob't. 
T. Russell, and Mrs. Rebecca J. Russell. 

The Rev. John D. Wood was the first pastor, and the Rev. John B. H. 
Woolridge is in charge at present. The class numbers thirteen members 
It has no house of worship as yet, but being in a prosperous condition, 
expects to build one soon. 

Ml. Hope Lodge, JVo. 4.76, A. F. & A. M., at Odessa was instituted by 
Xenophon Ryland, D. D. G. M., under dispensation, dated March 31, 
1874. Their charter was issued Oct. 15, 1874. The first officers 
and additional charter members were, A. R. Leeper, W. M. ; Wm. B. 
Roberts, S. W.; Robert T. Russell, J. W.; John C. Alfred, Treasurer; W. 
T.Anderson, Secretary; John W. McBurney, S. D.; J. W. Holman,J. D.; 
A. L. Maxwell, Tyler. S. W. Creasey, John A. Prather, W. B. Couch- 
man, L. C. Nichols, and J. T. Stanley. 

The present officers are W. B. Couchman, W. M.; J. W. Holman, S. 
W.; Wm. Thomas, J. W.; L. R. Smith, Treasurer; W. T. Anderson, Secre- 
tary; J. W.McBurney, S. D.;T. W. Carmichael, J. D.; L.F.Clemens, Chap- 
lain; W. B. Roberts and S. W. Creasy, Stewards; J. F. Wood, Tyler. 
The present membership of this lodge is 47. It was originally located at 
Mt. Hope, but by permission of the G. M. it was removed to Odessa, 
still retaining its original name. 

McKendee Chapel, M. E. Church, South, Sniabar township, is situated 
in Sec. 34, Tp. 4S, R. 28, and was organized in 1S40. The following are 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 475 

the names of the original members: Morris Cobb, Rebecca Cobb, Eph- 
raim Waggoner, Sr., Sarah Wood, Isaac Wood, Isham Reese, Malinda 
Reese, Elizabeth Reese, Nancy Reese, I. M. Cobb, Sarah Cobb, Mrs. 
Cox, Mrs. Gatterfield, Sarah Sparks and others. The first church build- 
ing, a frame, was erected in 1857— the present, also frame, in 1858 at a 
cost of $1,100. It was dedicated by the Rev. William Hulks. The 

names of its successive pastors were — Daniel Leaper, Thos. Ashley, 

Colborn. The present pastor in charge is Rev. J. B. Woodridge. The 
number of its present membership is ninety-four, and it's Sunday school 
was .fifty members. The church owns one acre and a half of ground 
— one acre of which is occupied by the grave-yard, in which James Wag- 
goner, son of Rev. Ephraim Waggoner, was the first person buried. 

The following items of early history were furnished by Mr. Stephen S. 
White. The first settlers in Sniabar township, were Chas. Hopper, William 
Helm, Allen Helm and Joseph Cox. The first marriage was that of 
William White to Nancy Bowers, by Elder Joseph White, about the year 
1834. The first male child was James B. White, son of William and 
Nancy White; and the first female child was Frances White, daughter of 
John White, who married Miss Cox, in Tennessee, about the year 1832 
and came to this county the same year. The first death was that of John 
White, in 1835, and was burried in the grave yard of Joseph White. 
Doctors Flournoy and Barren were thefirs>t regular physicians in the town- 
ship. Rev's. John Warder of Kentucky, and Joseph White, of Tennessee, 
both Baptists, were the first ministers; preaching first in private houses, and 
then in the school houses. The first school was taught by David White, 
who taught for years at $200 per year, and died in 1842. Hopper, the 
Helms, Coxes, and all the early settlers wove cloth for their own use, or 
wore buckskin. 

Old Concord Church, was built of logs, in the year 1842, on the north 
end of northeast quarter of southwest quarter of section 24. It was built 
as a church free for all denominations; has 10 acres appropriated for the 
use of the church, including a grave yard of one acre and a half. The 
first person buried there was Spencer Adams. The first preachers were 
Henry Palmer and Jacob Powell, missionary Baptist; John Warder, O. S. 
Baptist; the Methodist circuit riders; and J. Gillespie, Cumberland Pres- 
byterian. 

Dr. D. M. Reed states that on the old Helm farm in the northeast cor- 
ner of section 11, a party of Anderson's men were surprised in the spring 
of 1863, by a portion of Col. Crittenden's command, 7th regiment, M. S. 
M., and four of the former were killed, and two of the latter wounded. 

The house now occupied by Mr. Allred was deserted during the war, 
and was occasionally occupied and used as a shelter by both parties. 



•176 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Many skirmishes occured here, the signs of which are now apparent — 
bullet holes in the walls, doors, windows, etc. 

The Tobacco Factory, of Johnson Williamson, manufactures about 
4,000 lbs. of tobacco annually, and is the principal tobacco market for 
Lafayette county. 

Point Lookout, a point on one of the Sni Hills, gives a commanding 
view of the surrounding country. From it the city of Lexington can be 
seen to the northeast, and the church steeples of Odessa, also to the north- 
east. It obtained its name from the bushwhackers, having been used by 
them as a post of observation. It is located in section 13, township 48, 
range 29. 



HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

Washington was struck off from Lexington township August 2, 1836, 
and erected into a new township, with the following boundaries: "Begin- 
ning at the east line of Clay municipal township, on the township line 
between the congressional townships 19 and 50, thence south with the said 
Clay township line to Jackson county; thence east with the county line 
between Jackson and Lafayette counties to the Freedom township line; 
thence north with the west line of Freedom township to Davis township, 
thence with the west line of Davis township to the line between the con- 
gressional townships 19 and 50; thence west with said line to the begin- 
ning." Wm. Robinett's was appointed as the place of holding an election, 
October 29th, for two justices of the peace. 

The above boundaries are just as they stand to this day; but the south 
part of what was then Clay township has since been reorganized into 
Sniabar township. Washington township contains 102 full sections, and 
is the largest township in the county. 

FIRST SETTLEMENTS. 

As near as can be ascertained Richard Powell appears to be the earliest' 
settler in Washington township, having located there as early as 1820. 
His sons, David and Thomas J. and a son-in-law, named Eli Adams, 
occupied the farm — upon which he settled- -after his death. 

Among the other more prominent citizens who early located in the 
limits of this township, mention is also made of John Jennings, Bently 
Barton, Nimrod Scott, Norman Pool, James S. Whitsett, Ephraim Pool, 
John McNeal, James Barker, Thos. Hutchison, Levi Whitsett, Henry 
James, Morgan Cockrell, John Ingram, Charles Smith, Judge Julius 
Emmons and Rev. John R. Whitsett, a Cumberland Presbyterian minis- 
ter. These settled principally in the eastern, southern and northern por- 
tions of the township. 



HISTORY OF ' LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 477 

John Whitsett, the father of William Whitsett (who came to this town- 
ship in 1834,) settled near Dover in 1819, and three years later moved to 
the Slaughter farm. Chatham S. Ewing settled where his son now 
resides, in 1836. 

The following items of early history were furnished by Mr. William 
Whitsett, whose father, John Whitsett settled near Dover, in this county, 
as early as 1819. The first settlers in the region of Mt. Hebron Church, 
were John Ingram, of Tennessee, Charles Smith, of Tennessee, William 
Whitsett, of Kentucky, Richard Powell and John R. Whitsett, of Ken- 
tucky, and Chatham Ewing, of Kentucky. The children of John R. 
Whitsett were the first born there, both male and female. The first death 
were Mary, daughter of Chatham Ewing, and was buried at the old brick 
church south of Lexington. Dr. M. W. Flournoy, of Kentucky, and Dr. 
J. M. Kieth were the first physicians. Rev. Robert Renick was the first 
Christian minister, and preached in the old Lebanon log school house. 
He was a Cumberland Presbyterian. The first school house was built in 
section 29, township 49, range 27, of logs by the neighbors. The first 
cloth was weaved by Mrs. Chas. Smith. In February, 1835, a negro 
woman belonging to Nimrod Scott, lost her way, and was frozen to death. 
She was buried on the roadside by the neighbors. 

Mr. Eli Adams furnishes the following items of the early history of 
Washington township: The first settlers were Richard Powell, Charles 
Smith, Stephen Barker, Sr., James Barker, Elias Barker, John Barker, 
'Wm. Barker, John Ingram, Juliu s Emmons, Wm. M. Whitsett, C. S. 
Ewing and Eli Adams. The first death was that of Mrs. Julius Emmons, 
which occurred in the spring of 1837. The first preachers were Revs. Finis 

Ewing, Robert and John Morrow, Robert Sloan, Kavanaugh, of the 

C. P. Church, and Rev. John Warder, of the Regular Baptist Church. 

MAYVIEW. 

This village has a commanding location, on Heth's Mound* situated on 
section 18, township 49, range 26, and section 13, same township, and 
range 27, and was laid out in 1866, by John P. Herr, George Houx, 
Stephen G. Wentworth, and William Morrison. The name of "May- 
view" was suggested to Mr. Herr, and subsequently adopted, by the excel- 
lent view which could be obtained from its cite, of the surrounding coun- 
try, which presented a beautiful appearance during the month of May. 

*Uncle George Houx related at the " Old Men's Club" meeting, how Heth's Mound got 
its name. In 1812 the british brought to bear every influence they could, to have the 
Indians engage in hostilities against the Americans, and bands of the Osage and Kaw 
took the war path. Capt. Helh an old settler of Cooper countjr, was out with a scouting 
party from Boonville, or old Franklin, and encountered a body of these hostile Indians a 
few miles west of this mound, but then fell back to it and there made a determined stand. 
A sharp and bloody battle then took place, and " the Injins got licked " This place was 
thereafter known as Heth's Mound. We have the above from Gen. Graham, an old inti- 
mate friend of Mr. Houx. 
R 



478 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

A postoffice was established in 1868, with Mr. John P. Herr postmaster, 
Mr. Herr built the first house, and also owned and operated the first store. 
Mr. George Houx built a dwelling house about the same time. The first 
school house was a frame building, built in 1866, at a cost of $600. The 
first school was taught by the Rev. William Gordon, and numbered fifty 
pupils, each of whom paid a tuition of $2.00 per month. The first mar- 
riage reported was that of John McAllister and Jennie West, who were 
united in the bonds of wedlock, by the Rev. M. Roth, in 1868, at the house 
of the bride's parents. The first male child born was Oscar, son of Thos. 
T. and S. Belle Puckett, born July 6, 1870. Agnes Lee, daughter of 
Dr. David H. and Katie Bradley, was the first female child born in the 
village. (Date of birth not reported). The first death to occur was that 
of Young Ewing, who died in 1869, and was buried at Mount Hebron 
Cemetery. 

Dr. Bouton is asserted to have been the first regular physician, formerly 
of Kentucky, and who recently went to Colorado. The first religious 
services were held in a schoolhouse, by the Christian denomination, with 
Elder G. R. Hand, pastor. 

In 1878, Messrs. Waterhouse and Ridings made an addition to the 
original town, on the west side. May view is a flourishing village of about 
250 inhabitants, located on the Chicago & Alton railroad, and also on the 
main thoroughfare between Lexington and Warrensburg. The follow- 
ing is a partial list of the business houses: 

General merchandise, 3; grocery, 1; drugs, 1; blacksmiths, 2; physi-' 
cians, 2; mill, 1; hardware, 1 ; grain dealer, 1 ; hotels, 2; justice of peace, 1; 
lumber yard, 1; drug and grocer, 1; livery, 2; furniture, 1. 

The Christian Church, of Mayview, was organized December 2, 1852. 
The first members were: W. H. Stone, E. J. Stone, M. E. Stone, Jane 
Conn, F. M. Small, E. E. Small, J. M. Small, W. Small, Thomas Proctor, 
S. Proctor, M. A. Proctor, Easter, (colored woman). The church build- 
ing is a frame, and was erected in October, 1875, at a cost of about $3,000. 
It was dedicated as soon as completed by Elder D. M. Grandfield. Their 
pastors have been: D. M. Grandfield, W. R. Cunningham, W. P. Dorsey, 
Geo. Plattenburg, J. A. Lord, H. W. Williams, the present pastor. The 
church has 87 active members. The original name of this church was 
the Union, and was located three miles south of Mayview. Their church 
building was burnt down during the war, and the church was then moved 
to Mayview in 1875, and the name changed to Christian Church of May- 
view. 

SOCIETIES. 

Mayview Lodge, No. 318. I. O. G. T., was organized by O. Hutchi- 
son in November, 1879. The charter members were J. B. Jones, Thos. 
T. Puckett, Reuben Puckett, E. S. Butt, Jas. Waterhouse, John C. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 479 

Moore, J. P. Herr, J. E. Kinchloe, J. P. Maw, Cordelia Moore, F. S. 
Waterhouse, Belle Puckett, Mrs. Eliza McKinney, S. E. Ford. The 
names of its first officers were: J. B. Jones, W. C; Mrs. Sue Waterhouse, 
V. W. C; J. C. Moore, P. W. C; E. S. Butt, secretery; Thos. T. Puck- 
ett, chaplain ; Mrs. Belle Puckett, treasurer; Jas. Westerhouse, marshal. 
The names of the present officers are: J. B. Jones, W. C. ; Zada Maw 
V. W. C; Thos. T. Puckett, P. W.; E. S. Butt, secretary: J. P. Maw) 
chaplain; I. W. Whitsett, treasurer; W. P. Keith, Jr., marshal. The 
number of present members are 42. They own no hall, but use base- 
ment of Christian church. The lodge is reported in a working condition. 

CHURCHES. 

The Mound Prairie Baptist Church, situated on the northeast qr. of 
northeast qr. of section 30, township 49, range 26, was organized Oct. 26, 
1842. Its first members were Milton and Isabella Perry, Wm. Lankford, 
and Julius Burton, of the Lexington congregation, and fifty others, the 
result of a meeting in the neighborhood. The first building was log, 
18x24 feet, and was erected in 1844. The present building is a frame 
one, 36x58, and was erected in 1858, at a cost of about $2,000. The 
church was never dedicated. Their pastors have been Elders A. P. Wil- 
liams, Joseph White, Wm. C. Ligon, I. T. Williams, W. P. C. Caldwell, 
Amos Horn, Edward Roth, E. S. Dulin, J. A. Hollis, J. Farmer, C. Whit- 
ing, G. W. Smith, D. C. Bolton, S. Whiting, A. Barton and Wm. Russell, 
present pastor. The present membership numbers about 175. The 
church since its organization has received about 500 members. Trus- 
tees and deacons, Wm. Lankford and Elijah Gladdish; clerk, Robt. Lank- 
ford; moderator, Wm. Lankford; treasurer, B. F. Vicars. 

The Mt. Hebron, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, situated on two 
acres of northwest qr. of northwest qr., section 22, township 49, range 27, 
was organized July 11, 1852, by Rev. C. A. Davis. The original mem- 
bers were Geo. Houx, Eliza A. Houx, Mary A. Houx, Young Ewing, 
Sam'l T. Whitsett, Absolom Marshall, L. A. Renick, Pruda Ingram, 
Eveline Woods, Ann Renick, Nancy Powell, Martha Whitsett, Mary 
Ingram, Mahala Whitsett, Elizabeth Whitsett, Nancy Marshall, Mary 
E. Marshall, Hezekiah Waterhouse, Lucinda Waterhouse, Chas. L. 
Ewing, W. A. Ewing, Jas. Wood, Oliver Houx, Pamela M. Lytton, 
Verlinder Small, Jane S. Renick, John T. Renick, David Ewing, (col.) 
The first church building was of brick, and was erected in 1851. *This 
building was burnt down, and another brick one built in 1873. Their 
pastors have been Rev's. C. A. Davis, W. W. Sudath, J. A. Prather, D. 

♦George Houx, Col. Thompson Ewing, Chatham Ewing and William Whitsett, of Lex- 
ington congregation, originated and carried out the plan of building this church. Mr. 
Houx was the superintendent and principal aider in the enterprise. The building cost 
$2,385.14, and the name " Mt. Hebron " was adopted by the congregation. 



480 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

M. K. Barnett, Jas. H. Drennan, S. Finis King, L. F. Clemens, present 
pastor. The present membership is 98. The first house was burned on 
the 16th of March, 1873, and was rebuilt the same year at a cost of about 
$1,000. The walls of the first building were not destroyed. Ruling 
Elders, Wm. M. Whitsett, E. M. Harrelson, Hezekiah Waterhouse, Hi 
C. Ewing, Wm. Houx, Joseph A. Pather, Sam'l Smith; clerk, deacon 
Jas. Waterhouse; trustees, Sam'l Smith, H. C. Ewing. Since its organiz- 
ation this congregation has received 267 members, including the original 
ones, and has lost by death 24. 

DEEDS OF VIOLENCE. 

The following is given by Mr. Eli Adams: In the spring of 1841, Mrs. 
Mary Scott and her son, King B. Scott, were murdered in this township. 
Mrs. Scott's body was found in the fire in the house. In the spring of 
1843, two years afterward, the body of King B. Scott was found in a 
branch of the Sni. Suspicion rested upon John C. Lester, a son-in-law 
of Mrs. Scott, and John Horton. Horton was arrested on a charge of 
passing counterfeit money, was sent to the penitentiary for a term of two 
years. While there he declared that Lester had committed the murder of 
the Scotts — mother and son. The governor was petitioned for a reprieve. 
Horton returned and Lester was arrested and indicted for the murders, 
but owing to a technicality, the indictment was dismissed. He was again 
indicted, took a change of venue, to Henry county; was there tried, 
found guilty, and hung at Clinton, in 1844. 

Some two or three years before the war, a murder occurred on the 
farm of Mr. Early, on the line between Lexington and Washington 
townships. Two negroes secreted themselves behind a gate post, and as 
Mr. Nance, Mr. Early's overseer, was passing through the gate, the 
negroes struck him with a club, killing him instantly. This happened 
about daybreak. The negroes were taken to Lexington, tried regularly, 
and hung. 

THE WAR TIME. 

About June 20, 1864, " Bill " Anderson, with twenty-two or twenty- 
three men, met a detachment of Captain Burroughs' company of militia, 
on the farm of Mr. Wm. Whitsett, near Mt. Hebron church; said detach- 
ment consisting of thirty-seven men and three wagons, of five mules 
each, being on its way from Lexington to its camp in Washington town- 
ship with provisions. A short and bloody conflict ensued, in which nine 
of Burroughs' men were killed outright and four or five mortally wounded, 
the remainder succeeding in making their escape. The attack was sud- 
den and the militia were taken at a disadvantage. Only one of Ander- 
son's men was injured. The bushwhackers shot the mules and burned 
the wagons. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 481 

In 1862 Capt. LeffenwelPs company of militia surrounded a Mr. Suth- 
erlin and his son, Samuel McMahan and Zenith Redd, on Mr. Sutherlin's 
place, and a short skirmish took place, in which McMahan, Redd and 
three or four militia men were killed. Mr. Sutherlin and his son suc- 
ceeded in making their escape. The latter two had served in the confed- 
erate army for six months, then engaged in bushwhacking for some time, 
and finally returned to the confederate service. 

In September of 1862, " Bill " Anderson, with thirteen men, met four of 
Col. Henry Neill's men, named: Evan Phillips, Wm. Iddings, Wm. King 
and Meyers, on the Lexington road east of Big Sni. The bush- 
whackers took them into Washington township, in the Vicinity of May- 
view and there shot them. Their remains were found about four weeks 
after. 



Biographical Sketches. 

CLAY TOWNSHIP. 

MAURICE G. JACOBS, 

merchant and real estate, P. O. Napoleon. Is a native of Trenton, 
Grundy county, Missouri, where he lived until eleven years of age, when 
he moved to Wellington this county. Was educated there and at the St. 
Louis commercial college. In 1865 he commenced business in Welling- 
ton, remaining there two years, at the expiration of which he moved to 
Napoleon, where he is still living engaged in a thriving business. In 1866 
he was united in marriage to Miss Ella V. Thorp, daughter of Col. 
Thorp, of this county. The period of their[wedded happiness was of short 
duration, the young husband being called upon to mourn the loss of 
his companion, ere one year had rolled around. October 3, 1871, he was 
again married to Miss Marie E. Kidd, daughter of A. F. Kidd, of Jack- 
son county. By this latter union he has had three children, one only now 
living, born January 20, 1876. Mr. Jacobs is an active, energetic, thrifty 
business man, who looks sharply after his own interests and at the same 
time is not unfaithful to public affairs, in which he is quite influential. He 
is the owner of 1,500 acres of very fine improved farming land in Jack- 
son, Lafayette and Ray counties. 

DR. J. W. LIGHTNER, 

firm of Joseph H. Lightner & J. W. Lightner, M. D., dry goods, 
groceries, drugs, etc., P. O., Napoleon. Was born at Sibley, Jackson 
county, Missouri, February 12, 1851. Was reared in this county and 
attended high school at Greenton, Missouri. Was an assistant teacher in 
the Howard High school, in Vernon county. He read medicine with L. 
M. Dixon, M. D., of Walker, Missouri; afterwards attended lectun-s at 
the Louisville medical college, and graduated in 1876. In the same year 
he also attended the " Kentucky School of Medicine." In June, of same 
year, he commencd the practice of medicine at Napoleon. September 19, 
1879, he was married to Miss Dora A. Sams, of Carrollton, Kentucky. 
The doctor is a genial, affable gentleman, held in high estimation by his 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 4&3 

fellow citizens, for his profound knowledge of medical science and social 
qualities. His whole time and attention are required in his large and lucra- 
tive practice, in the town and surrounding country. 

HENRY H. WAESTEMEYER, 

farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Napoleon. Was born in Warren county, 
Missouri, September 7, 1842. His parents were natives of Prussia. Was 
reared and educated in his native county. September 7, 1865, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Louisa A. Kallmeyer. They became parents 
of eight children, six of whom are now living — three sons and three 
daughters. The eldest, Mary L., was born August 23, 1866. After his 
marriage he lived in his native county, engaged in general merchandising 
until 1869, when he moved to Lincoln county, and continued in the 
same business. In 1S71 he took a stock of goods to Carrollton, Carroll 
county, where he carried on business for one year, at the expiration of 
which time he sold out his stock and abandoned the mercantile trade. 
He then moved to Napoleon, and located on a fine farm of 130 acres, 
where he now resides, engaged in its cultivation. He also pays consider- 
able attention to the raising of fine stock, bees, etc. He has a fine frame res- 
idence with a brick basement, beautifully located on the bank of the Mis- 
souri river, at a point which commands a fine view of the surrounding 
country. His farm contains about twenty-five acres of good tirnber, and 
an orchard of about 175 bearing trees, besides several others not yet 
arrived at that stage. Mr. Waestemeyer is an industrious, enterprising 
business man, possessing the unlimited confidence of the community in 
which he resides, as indexed to a certain extent by his election to the office 
of justice of the peace for Clay township, in which capacity he is serving 
with credit to himself and satisfaction to all. 

STROTHER RENICK, 

farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Napoleon. The subject of this sketch is a 
native of Barren county, Kentucky; born near Glasgow, January 19,1804. 
His boyhood was passed in his native county, where he was educated. At 
the age of sixteen years he came to this state and county, and in 1821 set- 
tled on the farm upon which he now resides. In 1824 he went to New 
Mexico, where he spent one } r ear and then returned. In 1829 he took the 
second trip to New Mexico and spent another year there — trading. He then 
returned to his farm and built the fine residence which he now occupies, 
comprised of a large frame building, containing nine comfortable and airy 
rooms, with wide halls between, and fitted up with all of the appurtenan- 
ces necessary for comfort and convenience. His place is known far and 
near, as the "Plum Orchard Farm." It is beautifully located on the 
divide between Sniabar Creek and the Missouri river; it contains 421 



484 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

acres, all under cultivation. He has a fine, large orchard of 1,200 apple 
trees, and a smaller one of peaches, pears, etc. A fine .grove of locust 
trees, planted by himself in 1830, ornament the lawn in front of the house. 
The outhouses, consisting of two barns, a double carriage house, ice-house, 
etc., are fine specimens of architecture and complete in their appointments. 
During the past six months he has sold three farms, one of 245 acres, one 
of ninety-three acres, and one of forty acres, all well improved. Besides 
the home farm Mr. R. owns six others, all under cultivation, aggregating 
800 or 900 acres of land. November 18, 1839, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Rebecca H. Livesay, a native of Greenbriar county, Virginia. 
Mr. Renick has been a resident of this county for over half a century. 
He is a man of broad and liberal views, quick to discover the true inward- 
ness of any enterprise, either public or private, and ready to assist in the 
active prosecution of any which meets the approbation of his sound and 
well matured judgment. 

RICHARD M. CHINN, 

farmer and stockraiser, P. O. Napoleon. Born in Bourbon county, Ken- 
tucky, March 28, 1825. His parents were natives of Kentucky also. His 
early life was passed in his native State, where he received a liberal edu- 
cation. On the 7th of January, 1858; he was married to Miss Sallie B. 
Barton. By this union they have had eight children, six of whom are 
living. Moved to Lafayette county, Missouri, in 1S66, and purchased the 
farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 228 acres of excellent land. 
He occupies a substantial two-story house, containing five rooms, finely 
located on the watershed between the Sniabar creek and the Missouri 
river and two miles south of Napoleon. In October, 1873, Mr. Chinn was 
married for the second time to Mrs. Magdalen Johnson, nee Regan, his 
first wife died during the previous year. He is a man of strict integrity 
and high principle, admired by all who know him. 

DR. EDWARD H. SMITH, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Napoleon. Son of Richard Smith; was born 
in Montreal, Canada, March 16, 1857, where he was raised and educated. 
After taking an academic course at Montreal College and graduating, he 
entered the McGill Medical University, established in 1812, where he 
completed one of the most thorough courses of medical science to be 
found in the curriculum of any college in the country, receiving his diploma 
in March, 1881. After graduating, he went to Kansas City and engaged 
in the practice of medicine. He, however, remained there but a short time 
going to Napoleon in June of the same year. Having a thorough and 
complete theoretical knowledge of the " art of healing," the doctor hopes 
by close application and strict attention to business, to build up a large 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 485 

and lucrative practice in the town and surrounding country. Few men 
have begun life under more favorable auspices — with youth, health and 
energy on his side, he is sure to succeed. 

CHARLES E. STONE, 

merchant and druggist, P. O. Napoleon. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, June 
2,1831. His parents died during his infancy. During his minority he 
was educated in Wilmington, North Carolina, and at the " University of 
North Carolina," graduating from the latter institution in 1849. During 
vacations he sailed south on his uncle's ship, in capacity of super cargo, 
going as far south as Rio Janeiro. He visited the West Indies, Nova 
Scotia, Central America, and various other places of interest. After 
graduating he spent 11 years in the northwestern States trading. In I860 
he went to San Francisco via. New r York, spending six years in Cali- 
fornia and Nevada, engaged in mining during the first three years. While 
in, California he enlisted in the Federal service, company E. 1st California 
regiment. Was mustered out of service in February 1866, when he 
returned to this state and located in Ray county, where he led to the mar- 
riage altar, Miss Willie Thornton, daughter of Dr. Thornton, on the 27th 
day of March, 1866. While living in Ray county he was engaged in 
teaching school. In 1874 he moved to Jackson county, where he lived 
for one year engaged in the manufacture of tobacco, having built a fac- 
tory for that purpose at Lone Jack. In 1876 he came to Napoleon, this 
county, where he is engaged in the drug and general merchandise busi- 
ness. Mr. Stone has a family of six children, three sons and three daugh- 
ters. 

THOMAS B. FISHBACK, 

merchant, P. O. Napoleon. The subject of this sketch is the son of F. 
L. Fishback, and the youngest of nine children ; born in Lafayette county, 
October 18, 1861. Was reared on his father's farm, located four miles 
south of Napoleon. Attended the public schools, at intervals; deriving 
his education, principally, however, through his own unaided efforts. In 
1881, February 27, he was united in the bonds of wedlock, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Hudnall, daughter of R. A. Hudnall. Having previously established 
himself in the mercantile business, at Napoleon, Mr. F. commences life 
with flattering prospects. Having vouth, health, energy, and good pratical 
judgment; aided and assisted by the wise couasel and co-operation of an 
estimable wife; both promising the esteem and confidence of all who 
know them, there is no reason why the happy couple should not pass their 
lives in peace and prosperity. 



480 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ROBERT A. HUDNALL, 

farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Napoleon. The subject of the following is 
the son of Jabez Hudnall; born in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, Decem- 
ber 6, 1834. Lived there until 1849, when he went to Bedford county, 
and engaged in clerking for different parties until 1852. The first year, 
he received for compensation, the munificent sum of $11, and his clothes; 
the second year, $24; the third year, $50, and the fourth year, $100. 
Verily, money was scarce — with him. In 1852, he made a loan of $250, 
with which he entered into partnership with two other men, in a business 
in which they were experienced and he was not. At the end of a year and 
a half, he had the experience, and they the money. This unfortunate 
transaction left him $250 in debt. In 1855, he went back to one of his 
former employees, and engaged with him again, at the old salary of $100 
per year. In 1857, he came to this state locating in Jackson county, 
having, at the time he arrived, only twenty-five cents in his pocket. 
He engaged in his old occupation — that of clerking — which he fol- 
lowed until 1861, when he commenced business for himself, at Napo- 
leon. He had but little money, but had good credit. He purchased 
hemp, but, on account of the war, was not allowed to ship it with- 
out a permit. He, however, succeeded in shipping a cargo, upon 
which he realized the snug little profit of $5,500. Continued in this 
business, with a moderate degree of success, until the 31st of July, I860, 
when the federals set fire to his warehouse, which, with its contents, was 
entirely consumed, leaving him. not only penniless, but $700 in debt. 
Nothing daunted, however, he next went to Carroll county, and dealt in 
hogs; realizing enough by this venture to pay oft' his indebtedness, thereby 
re-establishing his credit. Furnished with what money he needtd by a 
St. Louis commission house, he continued in the hemp trade, in which he 
realized $20,000, in the short space of four months. He then purchased a 
fourth interest in the steamer "Shreveport/' plying on the Missouri river. 
This proved to be a "white elephant," which coupled with his losses in 
gold speculation, left him with only $4,500 in his exchequer. In 1865, he 
entered into partnership with Capt. John Reiser, and William M. McPher- 
son, of St. Louis, and purchased a stock of goods to take to Montana. 
The stock, at Helena, Montana, ccst them $34,200. In twenty days after 
arriving there, he sold the entire stock for $52,000 in gold. After paying 
out $16,000, for transporting goods, he sold the remainder, $36,000 in 
gold, at 40 per cent, premium. In 1866, he started from St. Louis, en route 
to Fort Benton, with a steamboat load of merchandise. The boat sunk 
seven miles below Sioux City; he, however, sustaining no loss. In the 
same year, he went to Montana, where he engaged in trading and freight- 
ing. In 1868, he went to Bedford county, Virginia, and in 1869, came to 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 487 

Lafayette county, Missouri, and purchased the fine farm of 300 acres, upon 
which he now resides, pleasantly located upon the divide between theSni- 
abar creek and the Missouri river. His residence and outhouses are 
models of neatness and convenience. In November, 1861, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Mary Brown, of Jackson county. They have five 
children living — four daughters and one son. The eldest daughter mar- 
ried Mr. T. B. Fishback, of Napoleon. The second is attending Central 
College, of Lexington. Few men, indeed, have experienced the vicissi- 
tudes of such an eventful life, as that of the subject of the foregoing 
sketch; who, now surrounded by a loving family, is reaping in comfort 
the fruits of a life of toil and trial. 

GEORGE W. GRUBB, 

farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Napoleon. Born, February 2, 1831, 
in Loudon county, Virginia, where he was raised and educated. 

In 1852, in company with John W. Conard, (afterwards his brother-in- 
law), he came to this state and county, and in the following year, returned 
and was united in marriage, February 23, 1854, to Miss Jane A. Conard. 
In same year, returned to this county with his bride, and located on the 
farm where he now resides. Five children were born to them; four now 
living, viz: Mary Lizzie, Lucelia J, (married R. E. Fishback), Sterling 
Lee, Alina B. The farm upon which Mr. Grubb is living consists of 221 
acres of well improved land, upon which there is a fine orchard, which 
furnishes plenty of all kinds of fruit. He also devotes some attention to 
bee culture, cultivating the Italian species, which are thought to be the 
best adapted to this climate. Has a fine, large, commodious residence 
and good substantial barns and outhouses, all in good repair. 

Mr. Grubb is one of the substantial citizens of the county of his adop- 
tion; the interests of which he guards with a vigilant eye. He also owns 
considerable land in Johnson county. 

JOHN G. STROTHMAN, 

farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Napoleon. Is a native of Hanover, Ger- 
many, born May 31, 1811. Was raised and educated in the country of 
his birth. He immigated to the United States in 1836, landing at Balti- 
more on the 11th of June. In 1839, he went to Kentucky, and engaged 
work in a hemp factory. In 1842, he moved to Lafayette county, Mo., 
locating upon the farm, where he now resides, situated one mile east of 
Napoleon. It consists of 160 acres, nearly all improved. Has a fine res- 
idence and all. of the outhouses and appurtenances, necessary to the culti- 
vation of a stock farm. Has a fine orchard of seventy-five apple trees, 
and also several pear and peach trees, all bearing. In 1844, he was mar- 
ried, in St. Louis, to Sophia M. Denter, a native of Prussia. Five child- 



488 • HISTORV OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ren are the fruits of this marriage, named as follows: Sophia, (Mrs. Isaac 
Summers), Louisa, John, James and William; all married. They all live 
in this vicinity except the eldest. Mr. S. is a steady, industrious, enter- 
prising citizen, of the kind and quality which go to make up the backbone 
of the community. 

STEPHEN GATES, 

farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Napoleon. Is a native of Baden, Ger- 
many, born in 1839. Immigated with his parents to the United States in 
1844; locating in Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood and acquired his 
education. In 1859, he left Wisconsin and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, 
where he remained until 1865, when he came to this state and county and 
purchased the farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 300 acres of 
fine bottom land, located one and a half miles east of Napoleon ; all but 
seventy acres is under cultivation. The present year, (1881), he has 140 
acres of corn planted, which now give promise of an abundant crop. 
Along the Missouri river on this farm are some trees of very large growth 
— monarchs of the forest — one sycamore measuring 18£ feet in circumfer- 
ence. Walnuts have been cut measuring thirteen and fourteen feet. In 
1868, Mr. Gates was united in marriage to Miss Angeline McFarland. 
Their union is blessed with five daughters. Mr. G. is a thrifty, stirring 
business man and a model farmer. 

JOSEPH H. LIGHTNER, 

firm of Lightner Bros., dry goods, medicines and general merchan- 
dise, P. O. Napoleon., was born in this state and county, June 8th, 1849, 
where he has since resided. Was educated, primarily, in this county, and 
during the years of '68 and '69, he attended Bryant & Stratton's Commer- 
cial College at Cincinnati. After leaving school, he was engaged in farm- 
ing up to the year 1880, when he entered the mercantile firm of which he 
is now a member. He married Miss Anna Handly, Jan. 21st, 1875. They 
have two daughters, viz.: Florence R., born Oct. 23d, 1878, and Kittie 
R., born Oct. 27th, 1880. 

The firm of Lightner Bros, is the leading one of the town of Napoleon 
Although but recently established, being comprised of men of ability and 
experience, it has already taken its place in the front rank. 

JUDGE JOHN A. LOCKHART, 

blacksmith, P. O. Wellington. The subject of this sketch is a native of 
Simpson county, Ky., born in 1833. Came to Morgan county, Mo., in 
1840, where he remained four years; he then came to Lafayette, 
county, where he lived for a short time. In 1852 he went to 
Wellington, where he learned his trade, working with his brother, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 4S9 

T. S. Lockhart, who is a fine mechanic. Manufactures plows, 
deals in agricultural implements, hardware, &c. Makes a plow of 
his own invention, which has a good reputation, and from the sale of 
which he realizes a good income. He is the only representative of his 
trade in Wellington and is doing a lucrative business. Owns a fine resi- 
dence in the edge of town. In November, 1S80, at the request of his 
friends, he made a canvass of his district forjudge of District Court and 
was elected by a handsome majority. He obtained his education under 
many difficulties, being self educated, to a great extent. Attended night 
school for some time, even continuing his attendance after his marriage. 
Was married in 1859, to Miss Mary White, daughter of Luvin White, 
deceased, formerly of Scott county, Ky. They have five children by this 
marriage: one son and four daughters. His son is married and assists 
him in the shop. The Judge is an honored member of the M. E. Church, 
South. Is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge 81, of Wellington. He 
is a man of undisputed integrity, eminently worthy, in every respect, of 
the unbounded confidence placed in him by his fellow citizens. 

MARTIN SLAUGHTER. 

Mr. Slaughter, son of Roger and Lucy Slaughter, nee Long, who were 
born and bred in Virginia, is a native of Orange county, Va.; born Nov. 
22, 1812. His education was obtained while living there. In 1837 he 
went to Scott county, Ky., where he remained until the spring of 1844, 
when he came to Missouri and settled in Lafayette county, where he has 
resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married May 4, 
1847, to Miss Lucy R. T. Moore, of Orange county, Va. They have 
four children living, viz: Mrs. Mary E. Tilden, Arthur O., Philip and 
Henry. Mrs. Slaughter died in 1852. June 23, 1853, he married Mrs. 
Beatty, of this county. By this marriage they have one child living, 
Thomas S. B. Mr. Slaughter's paternal grandfather was a veteran of 
the revolutionary war. Mr. S. is a member of the Christian church. His 
Post Office address is Greenton. 

J. E. WAGONER. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Allen county, Ky., and came to 
Missouri with his parents in 1849, locating in Lafayette county, where, after 
arriving at manhood's estate, he engaged in farming and merchandising. 
In 1880 he went to Odessa, where he now resides engaged in the grain 
trade. Sept. 18, 1877, he was married to Miss L. H. Hobson, of Jackson 
county. They have one child, Stella M. Mr. Wagoner is a member of 
the Grange and also of the M. E. Church, south. Is a partner in the firm 
of Cobb & Wagoner, grain dealers, Post Office, Odessa. 



490 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

S. W. CREASEY. 

The parents of Mr. Creasey were natives of Bedford county, Va., 
where he was born, bred and educated. Came to Missouri in April, 
1853, with his mother, his father having died previous to that time. They 
settled in Lafayette county, where Mr. C. has since resided, engaged in 
farming and stock-raising. In 1866 he led Miss Mary R. Renick to the 
marriage altar, by whom he has one child, viz: Charles R. Their wedded 
happiness was of short duration, however, Mrs. Crease)' dying May 5, of 
the following year. Mr. Creasey is a member of the A. F. and A. M., 
and also a member of the Grange. He is a thorough business man pos- 
sessing the confidence of all who have business relations with him. 

G. W. PARKER. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Barren county, Ky., born in 
1835. His early life was passed there, receiving in the meantime as lib- 
eral an education as an attendance in the common schools of that day would 
admit. In 1853, he came to Missouri, and settled on a farm in Lafayette 
county, where he now resides. Four years of his life was spent traveling 
in the west. Enlisted in 1861, in Col. Elliott's regiment, in which 
he served three months. Was engaged in the battle of Lexington. In 
the fall of 1861, he started south, and was captured near Springfield, Mo., 
and was held prisoner for thirty days, when he was paroled. In 1867, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Anna Tickle, of Lafayette county. They 
became parents of four children, viz: Eva, Fannie, Flora and George W.; 
all now living. Mr. Parker is the son of John and Ann E. Parker, who 
moved from Virginia to Kentucky, in an early day. His father served 
in the war of 1812. Mr. Parker's post office address is Odessa. 

PASCHAL A. GIBBS. 

Mr. Gibbs, one of the pioneer settlers of Lafayette county, is a native 
of Bradford county, Virginia; born Nov. 21, 1807. Was there reared and 
educated. In 1837, he moved to Missouri, and located on a farm near 
Odessa, in Lafayette county, where he has since been engaged in culti- 
vating a fine farm, also paying considerable attention to stock raising. 
He was married, December 12, 1833, to Miss Cassie A. Creasey, a native 
of Virginia. They have two children, both living, viz: Thomas G. and 
Mrs. Susanna B. Elliott. Is a member of the State Grange, and also of 
the Baptist church. Mr. Gibbs came to Missouri in company with his 
father-in-law, Thomas B. Creasey, who died in 1843. Mrs. Gibbs died, 
February 18, 1877. The father of Mr. Gibbs served in the war of 1812. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 491 

J. K. ADAMS, 

farmer. P. O. Odessa. Son of Percival and Elizabeth Adams, was born 
in Franklin county, Ohio, February 22, 1816. His father moved from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1805. The early life of Mr. Adams was spent 
on a tarm and in fact, during the greater part of his life has been engaged 
in same occupation. In 1842, April 27, he was married to Miss Mary J. 
Havens, of Franklin county, Ohio. They have three children: Frank 
G., Mrs. Annis F. Baldwin, and Richard H. He came to Odessa in 1879, 
and for a while was engaged in the grain business. Mr. Adams is a 
veteran of the Mexican war, having served in the capacity of lieutenant of 
a company of cavalry. His father was an officer in the war of 1812. 
Mr. Adams and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian church, 
(O. S.) 

JOHN KIRKPATRICK, 

farmer, P. O. Odessa. The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson 
count}', Tennessee, December 23, 1816. He is the son of Jacob and Isa- 
bel Kirkpatrick, who lived and died in Tennessee. In 1841, he came to 
Missouri and settled in this county, in Clay township, near where the city 
of Odessa now stands. He has been a farmer nearly all of his life. Sep- 
tember 13, 1841, he was united in marriage to a very estimable lady, by 
whom he has six children. April 10, 1862, the family were called upon 
lo mourn the loss of wife and mother. May 25, 1865, Mr. Kirkpatrick was 
again married, leading to the altar Miss Sarah E. Phillips, of Ray county. 
By this marriage he has three children. In the same year 1865, he was 
appointed judge of the circuit, in which capacity he served for two years, 
in a manner satisfactory to all. His father served as a soldier in the 
Indian wars. 

JOHN W. McBURNEY, 

farmer, P. O. Odessa, is a native of Guernsey county, Ohio; born in 1843. 
His boyhood was spent in Illinois. At the age of 13 his parents moved to 
Iowa, where they remained until 1865, when they came to Missouri, and 
settled in this county on a farm. September 4, 1861, he enlisted in the 
U. S. army, 3d Iowa Cavalry. Was in the battles of Kirksville, Moose's 
Mill, Helena, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Whitewater, Little Rock, Gun- 
town, Tupelo, Independence, and Newtonia. Was honorably discharged 
July 26, 1865. In 1873, January 3d, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Laura McNeal, of this county. They have three children, Bertha L., 
Margaret, I., and Nanie W. Mr. McBurney is a member of the A. F. 
and A. M., and also of the Presbyterian church, (O. S). Mr. B. devotes 
considerable of his time and attention to the breeding of Norman horses, 



492 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

in which laudable enterprise he should have the co-operation of all who 
desire to see improvement in the stock of the county. 

C. W. LONG, 

breeder of Norman horses, P. O. Odessa, is a native of Garrard county, 
Kentucky, where he was raised and educated. Has been engaged in 
farming and handling thoroughbred horses all his life. Began breeding 
Norman stock in McClain county, Illinois. In 1878 he came to Odessa, 
where he has followed the same business ever since. He now has a five- 
year-old, iron gray, named Tacheau, bred in McClain county, Illinois, 
sired by imported Prince Napoleon, dam, Old Isabel, an imported mare. 
He also has a three-year-old horse, sired same as other, dam, Isabel 2d. 
Mr. Long, by his enterprise in this line, has done much toward the 
improvement of the stock in this community, and deserves the commenda- 
tion of all who delight in fine stock. He has taken premiums on his five- 
year-old at Indianapolis, Chicago, Farmer's City, Illinois, Springfield, 
Illinois, Kansas City, Lexington. Mr. L. was married in 1865, to Miss M. 
J. Pollard, of McClain county, Illinois. They have four children : Leo, 
Florence, Clara, and Frank Roy. He is a member of I. O. O. F., and 
also of the Christian church. 

J. H. BUMGARNER, 

blacksmith, P. O. Odessa. Is a native of this state and county, born in 
1855. His father, A. J. Bumgarner, was a blacksmith and came from 
Virginia to this county in 1850. J. H. learned his trade of his father and 
spent the greater portion of his life, up to 1879, at Green ton, engaged in 
its prosecution. In 1877 he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie 
Emison, of this county. Two children were born to them : Claude and 
Annette. In 1879 Mr. B. came to Odessa and entered the firm of Bum- 
garner & Ryland, as senior member. They are the leading blacksmiths 
of the town and have a large trade, from the surrounding country. Mr. 
B. is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and esteemed and respected by 
all. 

A. C. TRACY, 

trader and grain-dealer, P. O. Odessa. Is a native of Montgomery county, 
Ky. When quite young he came to Missouri with his parents and settled 
in Lafayette county, where he has since resided, with the exception of the 
time spent in the army, engaged in farming and trading. In 1862 he 
enlisted in the Confederate service — Col. Gordon's regiment, Shelby's 
brigade. Was engaged in the following battles: Westport, Mine Creek, 
Newtonia, Springfield and several other skirmishes, some of which were 
quite severe. April 1st, 1865, he was taken prisoner and paroled after 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 493 

being detained for 30 days. In December, 1867, he was married to Miss 
Mary Gibbs, of this county. Their union is blessed with four children, as 
follows: Robert, Carrie, Kemuel and Bertha. In June, 1878, the family 
circle was broken by the death of the wife and mother, leaving a sorrow- 
ing family to mourn her loss. Mr. Tracy came to Odessa in 1879, and 
engaged in his present occupation. He is a member of the Regular Baptist 
church. He has an irreproachable record as a soldier and stands high in 
the esteem of the community in which he resides. 

H. B. TUNSTALL, 

dry goods, P. O. Odessa. Born in Gallatin county, Ky., in 1849. At 
the age of 15 he came to this state and county, and engaged as salesman 
in a dry goods store in Lexington, where he remained for 18 months. He 
then went to Illinois, where he remained until the year 1866; when he moved 
to Wellington, and embarked in the mercantile business, which he followed 
there until 1879. He then came back to this county, and located in Odessa, 
where he is doing a good business. In 1875, March 5th, he was married to 
Miss M. L. Ferrell, of this county. They have three children: Katie, 
Sophia and George. Mr. Tunstall is a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
also of the C. P. church. His parents, J. V. and Z. Tunstall, were born 
and bred in Kentucky. His mother died in her native state and his 
father came to Missouri in 1850. 

L. C. NICHOLS, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Odessa. Born in Georgetown, Scott county, 
Ky., May 21st, 1844. Was educated at Georgetown College, and also at 
Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, of which latter institution he is 
a graduate. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service, in the 13th 
Virginia. He shortly afterwards re-enlisted in the 2d Infantry, Ky. He 
took part in the following engagements, in all of which he conducted him- 
self as a brave soldier and an honorable gentleman: Bulls Run, Fort 
Donelson, Murfreesborough, Chicamauga, Corinth, First siege of Vicks- 
burg, Baton Rouge, Jackson. Franklin and Nashville. He surrendered 
near Petersburg, Va. In 1868 he began the practice of his profession at 
Sparta, Owen County, K}\, where he remained for two years. In 1869 
he was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Garnett, of Kentucky, who died 
1879, leaving two children with him to mourn her loss. They are named 
as follows: Harry Garnett and Benjamin Garnett. From Owen county 
the Dr. went to Shelby county, where he practiced for a year, and then 
moved to Missouri, locating at Mt. Hope, this county. Here he lived 
until the year 1878, at which time he went to Odessa, where he is now 
associated with Dr. Fewel, enjoying a large and lucrative practice. Dr. 



494 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Nichols received seven severe wounds while in the army, in which he 
served as private until the last year of the war when he was promoted, for 
gallant conduct, to the post of 1st Lieut, of the 2d Kentucky Battery. 
Was twice taken prisoner and held at Camp Morton and Johnson's Island. 
He has a good record as a soldier and is a rising man in his profession. 

ROWLAND S. HUGHES, 

physician and surgeon, P. O., Odessa. Dr. Hughes is a native of this 
state and county; born Nov. 29, 1840. He is the son of James H. and 
Matilda Hughes, who came from Logan county, Kentucky, to this county 
in 1820. The Dr's early life was passed under the parental roof. In 
1861, he enlisted in the confederate army, Graves' regiment, in which he 
served for six months. He then re-enlisted in company I, Shelby's brig- 
ade, 1st Missouri cavalry. While with this command he participated in 
the battles of Wilson's Creek, Carthage, Lexington, Prairie Grove, and 
other skirmishes too numerous to mention. In July, 1864, he was taken 
prisoner and incarcerated in Camp Morton until the close of the war. He 
was married July 13, 1869, to Miss Mary Solleder, of Platte county, Mo., 
by whom he has two children: Winnifred Tracy and Josie. In 1872, he 
graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and entered 
immediately upon the practice of his profession, for which he is eminently 
fitted. He traveled for a year or two, seeking a good location, practicing 
in various places for short periods, finally settling in Greenton, this county; 
became associated with Dr. M. M. Robinson, with whom he remained 
until the spring of 1881, when he located in Odessa. Although having 
been there but a comparatively short time, he has succeeded in ingratia- 
ting himself into the good graces of the citizens of the city and surround- 
ing country, and already has a good practice, which bids fare to increase 
largely in the future. Dr. Hughes is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 

J. W. PRINCE, 

firm of Prince & Wilkening, hardware, Odessa. Was born in Boone 
county, Mo., Feb. 5, 1848. At an early age he went with his mother (his 
father being deceased,) to Johnson county, Mo., and settled in Knob Noster. 
He was married, March 30, 1870, to Miss Alice Ridgeway, of Boone Co. 
By this union he has one child: Allie B. In 1871, he went to Aullville 
and engaged in the hardware trade, where he remained until September, 
1880, when he moved to Odessa and formed a co-partnership with Mr. 
Wilkening in the same business. His first wife dying in 1873, he was 
again united in marriage to Miss Josie B. Downing, of this county. The 
nuptials were celebrated, Sept. 20, 1875. Mr. Prince is a man of integ- 
rity and business tact, and the firm of which he is a member, receives its 
full share of the public patronage. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 495 

JOHN C. COBB, 

president of Bank of Odessa, P. O., Odessa. The subject of the follow- 
ing is a native of this state and county; born March 18, 1843. Is the son 
of A. F. and Louisa Cobb, who came to this county in 1839. His early life 
was spent on his father's farm, where he lived until the breaking out of 
the war. In 1868 he was married to Miss Louisa Hobson, of Jackson, by 
whom he has two children: Dora Lou, and Harry C. In 1879, he came 
to Odessa and embarked in the grain trade, which he is still following in 
connection with his banking business. Mr. Cobb is a man of strict integ- 
rity and close application to business; honorable in his dealings with his 
fellow-men. Is a leading member of the C. P. church, of which he is a 
deacon. 

WILLIAM FLETCHER, 

lumber dealer, P. O. Odessa. Son of John and Ellen Fletcher; was born 
in Mason county, Kentucky, in 1813. His parents came to Missouri in 
1829, and settled first in Pike county, where they resided until 1835, when 
they went to Henry county. In 1837 William came to this county and 
settled about two miles east of Dover, where he and his brother, George, 
engaged in the manufacture of hemp rope and bagging. In 1845 they 
had the misfortune to lose their establishment and contents by fire. Wil- 
liam then went to Waverly and engaged in farming and milling. In the 
fall of 1879 he came to Odessa and engaged in the lumber business, which 
has since occupied his attention, and in which, by industry and enterprise, 
he has succeeded in obtaining a lucrative patronage. In 1832 he was 
married to Rachel Burroughs, of Pike county, by whom he has three 
children: Sarah, (Mrs. Warren) Fannie, (Mrs. McCord) and George. 
Mr. Fletcher is one of the leading business men of the town; enterprising 
and energetic, possessing qualities which render him an invaluable citizen 
of any community. He has been identified with the interests of the 
county for nearly half a century. Owns quite a large property in the 
county. 

M. G. WOOD, 

firm of M. G. Wood & Co., general merchandise, P. O. Odessa. Son of 
Isaac and Mary Wood; was born Dec. 26, 1847, in this State and county; 
was raised and educated in the county of his birth. Up to the year 1873 
he was engaged in farming. In that year he began merchandising, as 
salesman at Chapel Hill. In September, 1880, he came to Odessa, and 
established the firm of which he is now the principal member. He is a 
young man of talent and good management; qualities which have attracted 
quite a liberal share of the public patronage. Was married September 3, 



496 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNT Y. 

1873, to Miss Nannie E. Moore, of Lafayette county. They have three 
children: Fannie, Ernest H., and Mary A. Mr. Wood is a member, in 
good standing, of the A. F. & A. M., and also of the C. P. church. 

DAVID C. BAGGARLY, Jr., 

firm of Varner & Baggarly, milling and wool-carding, P. O. Odessa. 
Born January 30, 1830, in Fauquier county, Virginia. Is the son of 
David C. and Catharine R. Baggarly. His early life was spent in his 
native county, where he was educated, and learned the trade of milling. 
At the earlv age of twenty-three, he took charge of a mill, in which capa- 
city he has been engaged ever since. In 1867, he was united in marriage 
to Miss S. E. Varner, of this county, by whom he has five children, all 
living: Blanche, Herbert, Claude, Catharine, and Eugene. In 1873, he 
migrated to this state and county, and settled at Greenton. He moved 
from there to Odessa, in 1879, where he, in partnership with Mr. Varner, 
now owns and operates a mill and wool-carding factory. Mr. B. is a 
member of the A. F. & A. M. Lodge, esteemed by all of his associates. 

W. P. JOHNSON, 

dentist, P. O., Odessa. Is a native of Wheeling, West Virginia; was 
born March 1, 1845. Was educated at Wheeling. October 1, 1861, he 
enlisted in the Sixth West Virginia infantry, of C. S. A., under Col. Wil- 
kerson. He enlisted as private, and when mustered out, June 10, 1865, 
bore the rank of first lieutenant. Engaged in the battles of Laurel Hill, 
Winchester, Woodstock, Bulltown, and Rumney. He began the practice 
of dentistry, at Columbus, Indiana, in 1870. He remained here for six 
years, and then went to Olney, Illinois, where he resided for one year; 
going from there to Holder), Missouri, continuing his practice. In 1878, 
he came to Odessa, where he has since resided, engaged in a lucrative 
practice of his profession. October 14, 1880, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Anna Varner, of this county, a very intelligent and estimable lady. 
Dr. Johnson is a member of Knights of Pythias, and a whole-souled, 
genial gentleman. 

M. M. ROBINSON, M. D. 

Dr. Robinson, a prominent physician and farmer of Lafayette county, is 
a native of Harrison county, Kentucky, and was born July 5, 1824. He 
came to Missouri in 1834, with his parents, and settled in Boone county ^ 
Obtained his education at the State University, at Columbia, and also 
graduated from (he medical department of the Transylvania University.^ 
In 1848, he came to Lafayette county, where he has since lived, engaged 
in farming and practicing medicine. April 27, 1848, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary J. Bates, of Lafayette county, by whom he has 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 497 

had nine children, four now living. His wife died in 1863, and during the 
following year he led Miss Mattie A. V. Gibbs, to the marriage altar. By 
this marriage they have eight children. The doctor is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M., and also of the M. E. Church, South. Post-office Green- 
ton. 

A. W. STEVENS. 

Mr. Stevens was born in Bedford county, Virginia, where he was raised 
and educated. In 1868, he came to Missouri, and settled in Lafayette 
county, where he was engaged in farming, until 1879 (with the exception 
of the time spent in the army), when he moved to Odessa. In 1861, he 
enlisted in the confederate army, under "Stonewall" Jackson. Served 
through the entire war. Was wounded three times, and taken prisoner 
once. Was engaged in the battles of Richmond, Wilderness, Chancel- 
lorsville, Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Sharpsburg, and Gettysburg. 
Was with Gen. Lee when he surrendered. Mr. Stevens was elected a 
member of the town board of Odessa, in April, 1880. In 1873, he was 
married to Miss Carrie Gibbs, of Lafayette county. Two children were 
born to them, viz: Wade and Lena. Mr. S. is a member of the Christian 
Church. Post-office, Odessa. 

ELDER W. R. CUNNINGHAM, 
P. O. Bates City, Missouri; is a native of the famous Blue Grass Region, 
Kentucky, where he was born April 14, 1834, in Bourbon county, and 
where his father was a prominent grazier. At an early age he developed 
a taste for study, and determined to prepare himself for the legal profes- 
sion. In 1857 he was appointed assistant U. S. collector, at Olympia, 
Washington Territory, under Hon. S. Garfield. Under Mr. Garfield's 
guidance he continued to pursue his legal studies. In 1858 he resigned 
his position and entered Bethany college, where he became at once prom- 
inent as a debater in the college literary societies, and himself organized 
the Delta tan Delta, a Greek literary society. In December, 1860, he 
left college and began teaching. In 1861, when the Provisional govern- 
ment of Kentucky was established by the confederate army, he was 
appointed under Gov. Johnston, revenue commissioner of the state. He 
was twice wounded, and captured at Buffington Island July, 1863, and 
held as prisoner at Columbus, Ohio and Fort Delaware, until April, 1864. 
January 4, 1865, he was married to Miss Rebecca W. James, daughter of 
Judge Geo. James, of Zanesville, Ohio, by whom he has three children 
living: Alice, William R., and Lillie C. His wife is a descendant of the 
Abbotts, of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Her sister married John, son 
of Geo. Bancroft, the famous historian. From 1S64 to 1870, he was 
engaged in farming in Kentucky and Missouri, and in May, 1870, he 
entered the Christian ministry, in which he is now engaged. 



498 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

THEODORE BATES, 

P. O. Bates City, Missouri; was born in Lauscha, by Coburg, Sax Mein- 
ingen, Germany, July 9, 18 14, where he was reared and educated, and first 
married in 1836. Soon after his marriage, May, 1836, he came to this 
country, landing in Philadelphia. His wife died the next year, 1837. He 
spent several years in New Jersey, and then moved to Missouri, settling 
in Gasconade county, where he opened a woodyard on island No. 61, and 
continued until 1851, farming, trading, and furnishing wood to the steam- 
boats on the Missouri river. He then moved to Franklin county, and 
then in 1867 moved to this county, bringing with him over one hundred 
thousand dollars, which he had made since he reached this country. He 
settled in Clay township on a fine farm, and began the raising and hand- 
ling of thoroughbred Short Horn cattle. December 31, 1840, he was 
married the second time, to Mrs. Nancy Matthews, of Warren county, 
Missouri, by whom he has eight children. Besides several hundred acres 
given his married children, he has now 1000 acres in his home farm, and 
is a clear-headed, public spirited, and sagacious citizen. 

CHARLES R. SHAWHAN, 

P. O. Bates City, Missouri, was born in 1829, in Bourbon county, Ken- 
tucky, where he was raised and educated, and where he resided until 
1865, when he came to Missouri and settled in Jackson county. He 
farmed in Jackson until 1871, and then purchased the farm of 260 acres in 
this county, upon which he has since resided. In 1862 he enlisted under 
Gen. Morgan, in the C. S. A. He was wounded near Burksville, and was 
at the battle of Hartville, Tennessee, and was with Morgan in his raid 
through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Discharged in June, 1863, on 
account of wound. He has lost three wives. He married his present 
wife, Miss Lucy Ann Williams, of Jackson county, Missouri, February 9, 
1869, by whom he has one child living, Julia F.; is a member of Christian 
church. 

DAVID R. MITCHELL, 

P. O. Bates Cit} T , Missouri; was born and raised in Mason county, Ken- 
tucky. In 1858, he came to Missouri, and settled in this county. In 185£ 
he went west, and remained until 1865, then returned, and has resided in 
this county ever since. He engaged in farming until 1879, when he moved 
to Bates City, and engaged in hotel keeping, where he now is. In 1861, 
while in Colorado, he enlisted in Capt. Keith's Company, C. S. A., was 
taken prisoner in 1862, and held to the end of the war. In 1864 he was 
married to Miss Sue McCormack, of this county. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 499 

WESLEY H. ZINK, 

Post Office Bates City, was born in Bedford county, Penn., coming with 
his parents when quite young to Illinois, where he lived until 1866. He 
then came to Missouri and settled in Johnson county and engaged in mer- 
chandising. From Johnson county he moved to Pettis county, where he 
engaged in milling at Houstonia. ■ From there in August, 1879, he 
moved to Bates City, in this county, and engaged in the milling business 
under the firm of Zink & Brown. In 1880 Brown retired and the firm 
became the Bates City Milling Company. Mr. Zink was married to Miss 
Payne Lilly, of Indiana, by whom he has had four children — three of 
whom are living — James L., Louie and Edward. He is a member of the 
A. F. and A. M., and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. His wife is a 
member of the M. E. Church, south. In 1863 he enlisted in the 57th Illi- 
nois under Gen. Sherman and was in his famous march to the sea, and 
until the close of the war. Was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and 
many others, was wounded, at Shiloh, where he lost a brother. 

W. A. JACKSON, 

Post Office Bates City, Mo., is a native Missourian of the firm of C. R. 
Jackson & Son, and was born in this county. When quite young he went 
with his parents, C. "R. and Caroline Jackson, to Ray county where he was 
raised and educated. In 1880 he came to Bates City, in this county, and 
engaged in merchandising. His father moved to Texas and remained 
there eighteen months and then moved to Kansas City, where their house, 
C. R. Jackson & son, is located on the corner of Main and Third streets. 
They also have a house in Camden, Mo., under the management of A. J. 
Jackson. The subject of this sketch has charge of the house in Bates 
City. 

J. A. HAVENNER, 

Post Office, Bates City, Mo. Was born in St. Louis county, Mo., and 
there raised and educated. In 1873 he came to this county and engaged 
in farming until 1879, when he moved to Bates City and entered into the 
drug business under the firm style of Smirl & Havenner. Oct. 5, 1870, 
he was married to Miss Eliza J. Smirl, of Montgomery county, Missouri, 
by whom he has six children. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 

DR. M. W. FLOURNOY, 

Post Office Bates City, Mo., was born and raised in this county and edu- 
cated at William Jewell college, Liberty, Mo. In 1877 he graduated at 
the St. Louis Medical College, and began the practice of medicine in this 
county. In 1879 he moved to Bates City, where he is now located and 
where he has a large practice. He is a member of the Baptist church, 



500 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

also of A.F. and A. M. He is the son of Gideon and Sallie Flournoy {nee 
Owens) who came from Kentucky to this county in 1837. They were 
married in this county in 1840. 

RICHARD H. BENTON, 

Post Office Greenton, Mo., was born in Lexington, Ky., about 1842, and 
at the age of eleven, 1853, came with his parents to this county, and set- 
tled in Clay township, and he now resides on the farm upon which his 
father lived before him. His father died in 1873 at the age of seventy- 
five — he was born and raised in Scott county, Ky. Richard Benton was 
married Nov, 5, 1874 to Miss Alice Johnson, of this county — and by this 
union has three children living — Carlton, Hattie and Brenda. In 1861 he 
joined Capt. Elliott's company in the M. S. G., state service, for six 
months, and then enlisted under Shelby, C. S. A. Was taken prisoner 
near Brownsville, Ark., and held 21 months, was exchanged and returned 
to his command; and was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Lexington, Lone 
Jack — where he was wounded — Springfield. Mr. Benton is a member of 
the Christian church. 

JOSEPH H. CHRISTY, 

Post Office Greenton, Mo., is the son of Bainbridge and Dulcina Christy, 
and was born in this county, Oct. 18, 1839. He was raised and educated 
in this county and has lived here all his life. His parents were from Ken- 
tucky and came to this county in 1837. He has been occupied in farming 
and stock-raising, and has a fine farm of 440 acres in the Greenton Valley. 
He was married to Miss Martha Stapp, Oct. 24, 1866 — granddaughter of 
Allen Jennings, who came to this county at an early day. They have four 
children living — Elnora, Alma S., Lucy H. and Joseph Gilbert. In Aug- 
ust 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Keith's company, M. S. G. and was wounded 
at the siege of Lexington, Mo., which disabled him for a year. He then 
went south and enlisted in Bullard's company, Gordon's regiment, Shel- 
by's command, C. S, A., and was in the battles of Lexington, Cape Gi- 
rardeau, Helena, Bayou Metre, Little Rock, Mark's Mills, Poison Springs, 
Newtonia three times, Westport, etc. — surrendered June 12, 1865 at 
Shreveport. He is a deacon in the C. P. church, and also a member of 
the Grange. 

W. Y. C. CAMPBELL, 

P. O. Bates City, Missouri, is a native of this county, where he was born 
February 19, 1832; he was also raised and educated in this county, and 
has lived here all his life, engaged in farming. November 4, 1858, he was 
married to Miss Martha Gleaves, of this county, and by this union has 
nine children living. He is the son of Henry and Nancy Campbell, who 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 501 

moved from Kentucky to this county in 1820, and settled in Clay town- 
ship. His father raised a family of twelve children, in this county, and 
died April 6, 1874, at a very advanced age. 

FRANCIS T. THORP, 

P. O. Greenton, Missouri. Was bord in Bedford county, Virginia, Sep- 
tember 7, 1806, where he was reared and educated. He moved to this 
county in 1808, and settled in Clay township, where he has ever since 
resided, engaged in farming. He was married February 2, 1802, to Miss 
Zerinda G. Price, of Bedford county, Virginia. She died August 8, 1854, 
leaving three living children: Mrs. Susan E. Beazley, Mrs. Sophia R. 
Kincaid, and James A. B. He has a splendid farm of 200 acres in the 
Greenton valley, which is well improved. His father was a soldier of the 
war of 1812. 

WM. S. THORPE, 

P. O. Greenton, Missouri, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, Septem- 
ber 14, 1814, and was there raised and educated. In 1856, he moved to 
this county, and settled in Clay township, where he has ever since resided, 
and pursued the avocation of a farmer. On the 19th of December, 1809, 
he married Miss Mary C. Johnson, of Murray county, Tennessee, by 
whom he has two living children, Mrs. T. E. Ingram and E. Theodore. 
He has been a member of the Methodist Church South, for over forty 
years. He is also a Mason. 

JAMES H. HANNAH, 

P. O. Greenton, Missouri; was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, and 
there raised and educated. In 1855 he came to Missouri, and settled in 
Saline county, where he lived several years. During the war he moved 
to this county, where he has since lived, engaged in farming. In 1861 he 
enlisted in the southern army, and was in the battles of Coon's Creek, 
and in all the battles of Price's retreat from the state, and captured near 
Cane Hill, and kept prisoner a short time. Surrendered at Shreveport. 
He was married June 0, 1858, to Miss Julia Garnhart, of this county, by 
which marriage he has seven children living. He is a ruling elder of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian church. His father died when he was only five 
years old, and being the eldest of the sons, has had the care of his mother, 
principally, who is still living. 

JAMES J. GARVIN, 

P. O. Bates City. Was born in New York City. When quite young, 
his parents moved to Baltimore, where he was raised and educated. At 
the age of nineteen he went to Virginia, and stayed there until 1852, when 



502 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

he moved to his county, and has lived here ever since, carpentering and 
farming. March 9, 1851, he was married to Miss Mary Capper, of Fred- 
erick County, Va., by whom he has had eleven children, eight of whom 
are living — Theodore W., Robinson M., Sarah J., Edgar L., Elizabeth A., 
Florence, Hattie A., and Michael H. Mr. Garvin is a member of the C. 
P. church. His father came to this county in 1849, and continued here 
until his death, which occurred near Greenton. 

J. A. LAUGHLIN, 

P. O. Odessa, Mo. Was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, where he was 
raised and educated, until 1866 ; he then moved to this county, where he 
has since lived and farmed. He was married in the fall of 1868 to Miss 
Laura Thorp, of Iowa, by whom he has had six children, four of whom 
are living — Claude, Blanche, Alva, and one not yet named. He is the son 
of Jonathan and Flora Laughlin, who were natives of Tennessee. They 
came to this county in 1866, and remained here until Mr. Laughlin died. 
Mrs. Laughlin is still living. 

SAMUEL NULL, 

P. O. Odessa, Mo. Mr. Null was born in Carroll County, Md., where he 
was reared, educated, and resided until 1866, when he came to this county, 
and has lived here since, engaged in farming. For several years past, he 
has retired, and his two sons, Oliver and Ephraim, have had charge of 
the farm. He was married to Miss Hess, of Maryland, by whom he has 
had eleven children, eight of them living. His wife died in March, 1880. 
He has a fine farm of 360 acres in the Greenton Valley. Oliver C. Null 
was married October 9, 1879, to Miss EmmaKreutz, of this county. She 
died April 15, 1881. 

HENRY A. CAMPBELL, 

P. O. Greenton, Mo. Is a native Missourian, and was born in this county 
in 1826. He has lived and farmed in this county all his life. He is a son 
of Henry and Nancy Campbell, who came to this county from Logan 
County, Ky., in the fall of 1823, and settled in Clay township, where he 
lived until his death, May 3, 1873, at an advanced age. He had accumu- 
lated a large estate — having continued to enter land for several years after 
he came to the county. In 1844 he was married to Miss Margaret Car- 
lyle, of , this county, by whom he has seven children living. He is a mem- 
ber of the C. P. church. He served 5 months in the Southern army, but 
had to discontinue the service on account of sickness. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 503 

CHARLES N. BEALE, 

P. O. Odessa, Mo. Was born in Pocahontas County, now West Vir- 
ginia, in 1832. In 1843 he came with his parents to this county, where he 
has since resided, engaged in farming. He owns a fine body of land; and 
before the war, was one of the largest hemp growers in the county. In 
1870 he was married to Miss Jennie Lee, of this county, and by that union 
has one child living — Arthur Lee. He joined the Southern army, and 
served two months, when he had to abandon the service on account of ill 
health. His father, a native of Virginia, died in this county in December, 
1878, at the age of seventy-seven. 

JUDGE WALKER R. TEBBS, 

P. O. Odessa, Mo. Was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1818, and was 
there raised and educated. In 1843 he moved to this county, where he 
has since resided, pursuing his vocation of farming. He is the son of 
James and Elizabeth Tebbs, who moved from Kentucky to this county in 
1844. In 1842 he was married to Miss Mary Chinn, of Kentucky, by 
whom he has three children living — Thomas C, Anna R., and John J. 
His wife died in August, 1858. In 1863 he was appointed county judge 
by Gov. Gamble, and in 1871 was appointed by Gov. Brown to the same 
office, to fill an unexpired term. His father served in the war of 1812, 
and his maternal grandfather was a revolutionary soldier. Both his father 
and himself were among the leading hemp-growers of this county before 
the war, owning a large number of slaves. His father was born in 1789, 
and died October, 1878; and at his death was the oldest member of the 
Christian church in the United States, having been one of the very first 
members of that church when it was first organized in Kentucky. 

JAMES A. EMISON, 

P. O., Wellington, Mo., was born and raised in Scott county, Kentucky, 
and is a son of Benj. Emison, who came to this county and settled in Clay 
township in 1850, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and 
handling all kinds of stock. In 1851, Mr. Emison, was married to Miss 
Robina Triplett, of Kentucky, by whom he has three children. His wife 
died in 1860. In 1861 he married again, Miss Mary Stone of this county 
being his second wife, by whom he has one child. He is a member of 
the Masonic order, and of the Grange. He is a member of the Christian 
church. His grand father was a revolutionary soldier. He is of Scotch- 
Irish descent. His father was born in Scott county, Ky., in 1801, and is 
yet a hale hearty old man, and now lives with him. 



504 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

THOMAS V. FOSTER, 

P. O., Bates City, Mo. Is a native of Franklin county, Ky., where he was 
born in 1844. He came with his parents to Missouri at the age of seven, 
and settled in Saline county, where he lived until 1859, and then, with his 
father, moved to this county. He has lived in this county since, except 
few years spent in Carroll county, Mo., one year in Kentucky, and two 
years in California. He owns a fine farm of 120 acres on Texas Prairie 
well improved, and with abundance of coal and well watered. He was 
married in 1871, to Miss Annie Duncan, of this county. They have three 
children: Alta A., Ada, J. E., and Tilden E. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Christian church. His father died in this county in 1877 

ALFRED KING, 

P. O., Bates City, Mo. Was born in this county and this township in 
1831, where he was raised, educated, and has lived all his life, engaged in 
farming and raising stock. He has a capital farm of 368 acres on Texas 
Prairie. He and a neighbor built the first two-story houses on Texas 
Prairie. In 1858, he was married to Miss N. W. Campbell, of this county 
by whom he has had seven children, six of whom are living: Henry E. 
Ethelbert, Jarvis W., Ella, Aaron G. and Ettie E. In 1862 he enlisted ir 
the C. S. A. under Gen. Shelbv, and continued with him until the end 
and surrendered at Shreveport, in 1865, and was in the battles of New- 
tonia, Cane Hill, Hartsville, Helena, Marks' Mills, Ft. Scott, Duvall 
Bluffs, etc. He is a member of the C. P. church. He is the son of 
Ephraim King, of Logan county, Ky., who came to this county in 1828, 
and settled on the farm upon which he lived to his death in 1868. Mr. 
King is an energetic and thrifty farmer, and has done much in developing 
his part of the county. • 

ALFRED F. NULL, 

P. O., Odessa, Mo. Was born and raised in Carroll county, Maryland, 
from whence he came to this county in 1866 with his parents, and has 
resided here since, except two years which he spent in Texas, railroading. 
He has a good farm of eighty acres. In the spring of 1874, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Virginia West, of this county, and to this union were born 
four children, three of whom are living: Walter Lee, Price A., and Floy 
May. He served two years in the U. S. army. He was taken prisoner 
in the Shenandoah Valley, but was soon after released on parole. He was 
in the battle of Frederick City, Maryland, Manoksie Junction, Adams- 
town, Leesburg, Snickersville, and Point of Rocks. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 505 

BENJ. P. PORTER, 

P. O., Wellington, Mo. Was born in Campbell county, Va., Dec. 14, 
1811, where he was raised and educated. In 1835, he came to this county, 
where he has since resided, except two years spent in Carroll county, 
engaged in farming and carpentering. His parents, Benj. and Martha 
Porter, were both natives of Virginia. He was married in 1840, to Miss 
Ann E. Price, daughter of Judge Nathaniel Price, who came from Bed- 
ford county, Va., in 1838. By this union, he has had eleven children, 
seven of whom are now living. He and his wife are members of the M. 
E. church south. He had three sons in the confederate service, and lost 
two of them. Previous to the war he was captain of the state militia. 

WILLIAM LAUDERDALE, 

P. O., Wellington, Mo. Was born in Sumner county, Tenn., in 1818. 
His parents, Josiah and Thankful Lauderdale, came to Missouri in 1835, 
and settled in this county where they have since resided. He has been 
engaged in farming, and has a iarm of 360 acres on the edge of Texas 
Prairie. His parents died in this county. He was married in 1846, to 
Miss Sophia T. Cobbs, of this county, formerly of Tenn., by whom he 
has had six children, three of them now living; Mrs. Mary Russell, Josiah 
and Thomas. He and family are members of the C. P. church, of which 
he is a deacon. 

JOSEPH HAMMER, 

P. O., Wellington, Mo. Was born in Rockingham county, Va., and at 
the age of eleven came with his parents, Henry and Christina Hammer, 
to Missouri, and settled in Cooper county, and remained there five years. 
They then came to this county, where he has since been engaged in farm- 
ing and trading. His father died in this county in 1864, and his mother 
in 1858. He was married in 1865, to Miss Lutie Mitchell, of this county, 
by whom he has five children :^E. M., Laura I., Clarence M., Bessie I., 
and Henry B. He is a member of the Methodist church south; has a fine 
farm of 200 acres. 

H. D. KITE, 

P. O. Wellington, Missouri. Was born in Page county, Virginia, where 
he was raised and educated. He is the son of Hiram and Arana Kite, 
who came to Missouri in 1870, 'and settled in this county. He was mar- 
ried November 14, 1867, to Miss Emma Strickler, of Virginia, by whom 
he had seven children, five of them now living: Ida, Willie, Annie, Ella 
and Ernest. His wife died, July 22, 1881. In 1862, he enlisted in Col. 
Ashley's regiment, C. S. A. and served two years. He was taken pris- 



506 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

oner near the county seat of Page count}', Virginia, and shortly after 
exchanged. Was in the battles of Harper's Ferry, and the other fights 
in which his command was engaged. In 1864, he was detailed to the 
quarter master's department, where he served to the close of the war. 

DR. D. K. MURPHY, 

P. O. Greenton, Missouri. Was born in Davidson county, N. C, where 
he was raised and educated. In 1S51, he came to Missouri and settled in 
this county, where he has since lived, save five years in Vernon county, 
and one year in Boonville. He is a graduate of the St. Louis Medical 
college. He began the practice of medicine in 1856, in this county. In 
1876, he moved to Greenton, where he has since resided. In 1854, he 
was married to Miss F. C. Leach of this county, and has seven children 
only one of whom is now living: Nellie A. He is a member of the Meth- 
odist church south. He is now post master in Greenton, has the only 
store in the place, and also practices his profession. 

LAFAYETTE BURTON, 

P. O. Greenton, Missouri. Was born in this county, and here raised and 
educated, and has made it his home. He has been running on the river 
most of his life, as pilot and captain. He now owns a fine farm in Green- 
ton valley, where he resides, and devotes his time to farming and raising 
stock. His father Jesse Burton came to this county in 1838, and lived 
here until his death. He was married in 1869, to Miss Jennie Price, of 
this county, and has two children, Jesse K. and Lizzie. His wife died 
August 27, 1876. He married again October 20, 188U, to Miss Blanchie 
Chinn, also ot this county, and has one child, Vinie R. He is a member 
of the Masonic order, and of the Grange. 

W. M. REAM, 

P. O. Bates City, Missouri. Was born and raised, and educated in Perry 
county, Ohio, where he was engaged in banking and farming. In 1878, 
he went to Texas, and engaged in the business of sheep raising, and in 
the fall of 1880, moved to this county, where he now resides. In 1859 he 
was married to Miss Mary C. Axline, of Ohio, formerly of Virginia, by 
whom he had five children, two of whom are living: M. Maud and R. 
King. He was four months in the United States service under Gen. Sie- 
gel. He is an enterprising and public spirited citizen; has a valuable farm 
of 160 acres near Bates City, and has some fine stock. 

R. C. GILLESPIE, 

P. O. Bates City, Missouri. Was born in 1834, in this count}', and here 
raised and educated. His parents, George and Sarah Gillespie moved 



HISTORY OP LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 507 

from Sumner county, Tenn., to this county in the fall of 1833, and lived 
here the balance of their lives. Mr. R. C. Gillespie has lived 
here all his life, engaged in farming, except two or three years spent in 
the far west. On the 23d of January, 1861, he was married to Miss 
Emma Handley, of this county, by whom he has had nine children, seven 
of them now living. In the fall of 1864, he joined the confederate army 
under Gen. Price, and remained to the surrender. He is a ruling elder 
in the C. P. church. 

THOMAS B. WALRAVEN, 

P. O., Napoleon, Mo. Was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, where 
he was raised and educated. In 1857 he came to Missouri and settled in 
this county where he has since lived (except two years in Ray county), 
engaged in milling and farming. In 1859 he married Miss Catherine 
Worley, of this county, by whom he has one child, Ida May, living. In 
1861 his first wife died, and in 1864 he married Miss Marion Shad well, of 
this county, by whom he had seven children, six of them now living: 
Wm. E., John M., Hattie E., Thomas B., Frank and Catherine L. He 
and his last wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 

JAMES L. KINKEAD, 

P. O. Wellington, Mo. Was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, and 
at four years of age moved with his parents to Missouri, and settled in this 
county, where he has lived ever since, engaged in farming. On the 23d 
of December, 1874, he was married to Miss S. R. Thorp, of this county, 
by whom he has two children: James and Charles living. He has 93 
acres of fine farming land on Texas Prairie. 

JOHN W. CASH, 

P. O., Wellington, Mo. Was born and raised and educated in Caldwell 
county, Kentucky, from whence he moved to Missouri in 1857, and set- 
tled in this county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. June 
1, 1856, he was married to Miss Virgilia Musgrove of this county, by 
whom he has three children living. His wife died, November, 1864. In 
1865 he married Miss Bettie Musgrove, by whom he has two children liv- 
ing. His second wife died in March, 1867. In July, 1868, he married his 
third wife, Miss Bettie Parhan, of this county, by whom he has three 
children. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 

B. F. HAMMER, 

P. O. Wellington, Missouri. Was born in Rockingham county, Virginia. 
At the age of thirteen he came with his parents to Missouri, and settled in 
Cooper county, where they lived until 1848. They then moved to this 



508 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

county, where he has since lived, engaged in farming. In 1861 he 
enlisted in the statt service for six months under Gen. Price. On account 
of ill health remained at home until 1864, when he enlisted in the confed- 
erate army, and continued to the surrender. Was in the battles of Lex- 
ington, West Port, Big Blue, Newtonia and others. In 1862 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Lizzie A. Stapp, of this county, by whom he has two chil- 
dren, living: Florence A. and Dora M. He is a member of the Meth- 
odist church, south, and his wife of the C. P. church. He was a member 
of the Taxpayers' convention for over a year. 

LEWIS N. SANDERS, 

P. O. Bates City, Mo. Was born November 16, 1800, in Bullard county, 
Kentucky. Moved to Missouri in March, 1851, and settled in this county 
where he has since resided, engaged in plastering and in farming. In 
December, 1831, he was married to Miss Jane G. Hansbrough, of Ken- 
tucky, by whom he has one child, Theodore, living. His wife died in 
1842. By his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Bayne, of Kentucky, he has 
two children living: Robert J. and John L. Both he and wife are mem- 
bers of the Baptist church, of which he has been a member since 1825, 
His parents were natives of Virginia. 

C. G. FORD, 

P. O. Greenton, Mo. Son of John R. and Caroline Ford. Was born in 
Boyle county, Kentucky. At the age of thirteen, he moved with his 
parents to Pettis county, Missouri, where they lived until the close of the 
war, and then moved to this county, and have lived here ever since. Ir 
October, 1870, he was married to Miss Sallie Beatty, of this county, for- 
merly of Mason county, Ky. In 1861 he enlisted in 2d Missouri cavalry, C 
S. A., and served four years, surrendering at Columbus, Mississippi, 1865 
Was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Farmington and man) 
others. He is a member of the Christian church and also of the grange 
Has a splendid farm of 260 acres in Greenton Valley. 

WILLIAM THOMAS, 

P. O. Napoleon, Mo. A native Missourian, was born in this county ir 
1830, where he was raised, educated, and has spent his life, except aboui 
seven years spent in California and Oregon. His parents, W. W. anc 
Hannah Thomas, came from Tennessee to this county in 1829, and con- 
tinued to live here until they died. In August, 1859, he was married tc 
Miss Cerelia Chapman, of this county — by whom he has nine children 
all living — John W., Flora E., James W., Joseph S., Estella G., Arthur C. 
Henry H., Franklin L. and Clara L. He has a fine farm of 200 acres or 
Texas Prairie and has been farming all his life. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 509 

THOMAS T. COBBS, 

P. O. Napoleon, Mo. Was born in Bedford county, Tenn., in 1829. The 
year after his birth, 1830, his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Cobbs, 
moved to Missouri, and settled in this county, living in Lexington five 
years. They then moved to Clay township, on the Big Sni, where they 
lived and died — his father dying Dec. 10, 1817, and his mother in May, 
1858. His father built the first jail in this' county — the first two bridges 
in the county, and also the first mill of any note. Thos. Cobbs, Jr., was 
raised and educated in this county, and has lived here all his life. He was 
married to Miss Catherine Harper, of Kentucky, Feb. 24, 1859 — by whom 
he has had seven children, five of whom are living— William S., Katie G., 
Thomas H., Sarah W. and Ethel B. His family belong to the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. In 1861 he joined the 
Confederate army under Gen. Price. Was in the battles of Westport, 
Big Blue, Newtonia, &c, and surrendered at Shreveport, 1865. His 
parents were natives of Virginia, and both died members of the C. P. 
church. 



DAVIS TOWNSHIP. 
MRS. LOU ABNEY, 

P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Daughter of George Ennis, who moved from 
Kentucky to this state at an early day, and settled in this county near the 
present site of Higginsville. In 1831 he was married to Miss Rebecca 
Cole, a native of Tennessee. In 1855 Miss Ennis was united in marriage 
to B. F. CofTey, and moved to Saline county whei e Mr. Coffey had a 
large landed interest. They remained in Saline some years and returned 
to this county. In the war Mr. Coffey was engaged in trading in stock 
and did not join either army. In December, 1878, while residing in Mar- 
shall Mr. Coffey was bitten by a rat, from which he died after a short ill- 
ness. In 1881 his widow, Mrs. Coffey, was married to Mr. L. W. Abney, 
and in April they moved to Higginsville in this county, where they now 
live. Mrs. Abney has land interests in both Saline and Lafayette coun- 
ties. 

IRA D. ANDERSON, 

P. O. Aullville, Missouri; son of Abraham Anderson, was born Decem- 
ber 7, 1816, in Warren county, Kentucky, where he was raised and edu- 
cated. In 1836, he moved to Missouri and settled in this county, where 
he entered the farm upon which he now resides. In 1838 he was mar- 

T 



510 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ried to Miss Harriet A. Collins, daughter of Wm. Collins, Sr. By this 
union they have eight children living: Henry T., Emilv E., Warren V. 
Joseph H., Wm. S., Leonora L., Egbert, and Henrietta. Three of these 
are married, and two of them are living in Johnson county. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Christian church. During the 
war Mr. Anderson remained at home, taking sides as little as possible. 
Soon after he settled in this county, the Osage Indians made such a 
demonstration of hostility, that Gov. Boggs called for a thousand men. 
Among those who answered the call was Mr. Anderson. 

MOSES ANSON, 

P. O. Aullville, Missouri; was born December 10, 1S35, in Pike county, 
Missouri, coming with his parents to this county the next year, 1836, 
being but a year old. His father settled one mile and a half east of Hig- 
ginsville, and died there in 1841. Moses remained with his mother on the 
farm. When fifteen years of age, he moved with his mother to Iowa, 
and remained four years, and then returned to this county. January 6, 
1860, he was married to Miss Frances L. Fitzgerald, by which union he 
has three children, living: Mary E., Minnie Lee, and John H. Mr. 
Anson now lives on his home place, which is well improved. 

H. C. FITZGERALD, 

P. O. Aullville, Missouri; was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, Feb- 
ruary 3, 1847, coming to this county with parents in the spring of 1852, 
and settled near Higginsville, where he was raised and educated. In 
March, 1875, he was married to Mrs. Mary E. Fitzgerald, his brother's 
widow, and daughter of W. A. Nutters. By this marriage they have two 
children living: Walter E., and Slater. Mr. Fitzgerald is now living on 
his farm. 

JAMES E. GLADDISH, 

P. O. Aullville, Missouri; son of Elijah Gladdish, was born in Warren 
county, Kentucky, near Bowling Green, July 22, 1836, and moved to Mis- 
souri with his parents in 1841. He continued with his father until 1860, 
when he went across tine plains, being absent about five months. He then 
engaged in running a hemp factory in Dresden until 1866. In April, 
1863, he was married to Isabella M. Burnell, of Boone county. By this 
union they have four children living: Edwin B., Sarah C, Charles H., 
and John G. Mr. Gladdish is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, 
being a charter member of the third Grange organized in this county, his 
wife is also a member. He is also a member of A. O. U. W. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 511 

FRANCIS M. GRAY, 

P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Son of the Rev. J. R. Gray, was born Decem- 
ber 18, 1842, in Marion County, Mo., and in 1846 he moved with his par- 
ents to Independence, Jackson County, staid there several years, when 
they all returned to Kentucky, and remained there until 1859. The}- then 
returned to Missouri and settled in this county, and lived here until the 
close of the war. Then he again went to Ktntucky, and staid until 1872, 
when he came back to this county and settled on the old homestead, where 
he now lives. When the war broke out, he enlisted in the State Guard 
under Gov. Jackson's call for troops. He then joined the confederate serv- 
ice, in which he continued to the close. Was in a great number of bat- 
tles. September 3d, 1872, he married Miss Martha Ellen Gray, and by 
this union has two children living — Catherine F., and Letitia F. Mrs. 
Gray is a member of the O. S. Presbyterian church. 

W. R. JACKSON, 

P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Son of Cyrus W. Jackson, and was born in this 
county April 22, 1853. He was raised on a farm until his sixteenth year, 
when he took charge of his uncle's farm, where he remained for a time, 
and then went on a trading expedition to Texas. In 1873 he returned 
to this county, and went into the drug business. In the winter of 1873 
he was married to Miss Lettie B. Keller, and has three children, tu o boys 
and one girl, Bessie E., born October, 1»74; Roy Berry, born July, 1877; 
Hulet M., born December, 1879. After his marriage he spent some time 
on a farm in Carroll County. In the spring of 1875 he returned to 
Lafayette County, and engaged in farming one year. He then moved to 
Aullville, and was appointed constable of Freedom township, and con- 
tinued in that capacity until 1878. He then entered the drug and grocery 
business at Aullville, in which he continued until 1880, dealing also in dry 
goods, and trading in grain. In the spring of 1880 he moved to Higgins- 
ville and engaged in the grocery business, but soon after traded his stock 
of groceries for a livery stable and outfit, in which business he is now 
engaged. 

TAMES C.JENNINGS, 

P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Was born in this county February 12, 1820, 
where he was raised and educated, and has lived all his life, mostly 
engaged in farming. In 1842 he was married to Miss Nancy P. Rose, 
having by this union eight children living — Chas. T., Mary E., Rosa A., 
Wm. H., Lockey J., Ida B., John D., and Frank C. Mr. and Mrs. Jen- 
nings are both members of the Baptist church. 



512 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

HENRY DILLON MILLS, 

P. O. Aullville, Mo. Is the youngest son of William and Elizabeth Mills, 
nee Dillon. His father, Wm. Mills, of Craddoxtown, County Kildare, Ire- 
land, was a barister at law and Justice of the peace. His mother being a 
daughter of Sir John Dillon, of Ireland, a direct descendant of the earls 
of Roscommon, and was also a free baron of the Holy Roman Empire 
conferred upon him and his descendants in 1782 by Joseph I, of Germany, 
this making Henry a baron of the empire. Henry completed his studies 
under Richard Edgeworth, of Edgeworthtown, Ireland. He was born 
December 4, 1S13. At the completion of his education, he entered a 
solicitor's office, where he studied law until he was licensed to practice. 
He then settled in Dublin, and practiced there. February 14, 1844, he 
was married to Miss Emily Preston, daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel 
Preston, of Ireland. By this union they have eight children living, Arthur, 
Nathaniel, Henry, Frank, John, Fannie (wife of M. M. Gladdish), Emily, 
and Alice. Mr. M. is one of the patrons of Husbandry. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Episcopal church. In 1867 with his family he 
came to this country, and spent one winter in St. Louis. In 1868 he moved 
to this county, and purchased the farm on which he now resides. 

WILLIAM H. PETERS, 

P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Is the eldest son of Isaac and Caroline Peters 
Isaac Peters was born October 17, 1812, and died en route for California 
May 6, 1849, and was a native of Augusta County, Va. Mrs. Peters was 
born September, 1823, at Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va. They 
came to Missouri in 1841 and settled in Lexington, where they were mar- 
ried April 16, 1846. The subject of this sketch was born in Lexington 
March 16, 1847. In 1862 he moved to Liberty, Clay County, Mo., where 
he learned the business of photographing. In 1861: he joined Shelby's 
command, and was attached to Capt. Dick Collins' battery, where he 
served until the war closed. He then went to Liberty, Clay County, and 
remained there until 1872, when he returned to this county. In the fall of 
1878 he moved to and settled in Higginsville, where he is now located, in 
the business of photography. He is unmarried; his mother lives with 
him. 

ISAAC REED, 

P. O. Higginsville. Son of Joseph P. Reed; was born May 10, 1848, in 
Clinton county, Ohio, where he was raised and educated. In 1866 he 
came with his parents to Missouri ,and the year after, he settled in this 
county. In 1871 he was married to Miss Matha E. Walters of Warrens- 
burg, Missouri, by whom he had one child, William. January 8, 1881, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 513 

(his wife having died) he was married to Miss L. J. Jennings, of this 
county. Mr. R. is associated with his brother, Adam, in the livery bus- 
iness. They also do a general traffic in stock of all kinds, also in vehicles 
of all kinds. 

SAMUEL L. SMITH, 

P. O. Aullville. Is the eldest son of Lewis Smith, who was born in Hamp- 
shire county, Virginia, May 20, 1795, where he remained until after the 
war between the sections. The subject of this sketch, when he arrived at 
the age of twenty-one years, left his father, and went to work for himself. 
In November, 1853, he was married to Miss Lavinia McCanley, and by 
this union has four children living: Walter H„ Edward O., (Gustavus A. 
now dead) Jonn L., and Mattie S. In 1862 he enlisted in the confederate 
army under General Cockrell, then under General Shelby. He was in 
all the principal engagements of General Shelby until 1864. In 1864, he 
with twelve others, was captured. He was taken to St. Louis, then to 
Alton until February 1865, when he was exchanged and sent to Rich- 
mond. There he went to work in the office of the exchange commis- 
sioner. Starting to rejoin General Shelby, he heard of the surrender at 
Atlanta, Georgia, and made his way home, and after a long and tedious 
trip, he reached this county and rejoined his family May 23, 1S65. He 
found himself broken in fortune, but went to work like a man, and now 
owns the farm on which he lives, 120 acres in section 3, township 4S, and 
range 26. 

DANIEL SNIDER, 

P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, June 23, 
1825, where he was raised and educated. In 1668 he moved to Missouri, 
and first settled in Caroll county, where he lived two years. He then 
moved over to this county, and settled near Higginsville. February 17, 
1818, he was married to Elizabeth Gollady, of Augusta county, Virginia, 
and by this marriage has four living children: John A., Ida, Newton E., 
and Mary E. . Mrs. Snider is a member of the Old School Presbyterian 
church. John and Ida are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, belong- 
ing to Davis Creek Grange No. 155. John Snider, father of Daniel, was 
born February 22, 1796, and his mother was born April 5, 1802. 

PETER THOMAS, 
P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Baden, Germany, May 1, 1S25, 
where he lived until the year 1819, and then came to this country, 
landing in New York on July 3d. He traveled through several of the 
northern States, staying for a time in each, consuming six years in this 
way, and finally settled at Dover, in this county, where he continued 



514 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

engaged in the mercantile and hotel business until 1878, when he moved 
to Higginsville, and built a large brick hotel near the C. &. A. depot. In 
1865 he was married to Miss Sophia Schoop, of Lexington. They have 
four children, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Thomas died October 
26, 1868, and June 20, 1872, Mr. Thomas married the second time — to Miss 
E. Burgess. In 1879 he purchased the farm of 229 acres on which he 
now lives. In the war he was a Union man, but tried to keep neutral; 
but finding this impossible he joined the militia. Both sides depredated 
on him and he lost nearly all his personal property. 

FINCELIUS R. GRAY, 

born in Harrison county, Kentucky, July 30, 1806. Worked on a farm 
with his father till November, 1827. Joined the Presbyterian church 
November 25, 1827. Was taken under care of Ebenezer Presbytery as a 
candidate for the ministry in April 1831. Was licensed to preach the gos- 
pel on October 9, 1833, came to Missouri in November/1833, traveled over 
the country between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers till January 

1834, and there being then in the country, no Presbyterian minister 
between Lexington and St. Charles, he accepted an invitation to supply 
the church in Columbia, and continued in that charge until September, 

1835, visiting and supplying, as far as paacticable, the several churches in 
Callaway, Boone, and Howard counties. Married Margaret Ferguson in 
Franklin, Howard county, August 12, 1835. He spent the following win- 
ter in Kentucky, returned to Missouri in June, 1836, and spent the sum- 
mer and fall in Franklin; went to Marion county in December, and sup- 
plied the Greenfield church for one year. In 1837 he took charge of New 
Providence and Newark churches, the one located in Marion county, 
and the other in what is now Knox county. In 1816 he went to Independ- 
ence, and continued to supply that church until September, 1850; then he 
went to Kentucky, and remained there, supplying the churches of Ver- 
sailles and Greer's Creek until March, 1859. Then he returned to Mis- 
souri, and took charge of the Tabo church, in Lafayette county; this 
church prospered until the civil war came on, under the effects of which 
the church was scattered and almost broken up, its membership being 
reduced from over one hundred to less than twenty. The charge of this 
church was relinquished in February, 1865; then leaving his family here, 
he went to Kentucky and did not return until August. When he returned 
the new constitution was just going into effect, containing an iron-c 7 ad oath y 
which all ministers of the gospel were required to take. That oath he 
could not take, and therefore ceased to preach or to exercise any of the 
functions of a minister until that was declared unconstitutional by the 
supreme court of the United States. During this time he cultivated his 
little farm and made a support for his family by daily labor as a simple 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 515 

farmer. After the oath was set aside he resumed ministerial work, and 
supplied the two (now little) churches of Tabo and Prairie. After a few 
years the Prairie church was relinquished. The Tabo congregation hav- 
ing concluded to pull down their house of worship and remove it to Hig- 
ginsville, he preached in a school-house in the neighborhood until the 
church was ready to be occupied; he continued to supply the Higgins- 
ville church until he was partially paralyzed in 1878. Since then he has 
been unable to preach or to do other work of a minister of the gospel. 
He is living on his farm in section 10, township 49, range 26, with his chil- 
dren. 

WILLIAM T. SHAMEL, 

P. O., Aullville, Mo., son of S. M. Shamel. Was born, Sept. 25, 1855, in 
Forsyth county, N. C. At the age of fourteen years he moved with his 
parents to Missouri, in the fall of 1869, and located in this county on the 
farm known as the Judge Downing farm. In 1872, he, with his father, 
took a lease for five years on H. J. Higgins' farm. In 1876, he left his 
father, and commenced for himself, on eight)' acres of prime land, which 
he purchased of S. L. Wilson. He raises corn and deals in cattle, and is 
a good, hard-working, honest man. 

HARRISON LUTTRELL, 

P. O., Aullville, Mo., son of Richard and Polly Luttrell. Was born Feb. 
3, 1835, in Clinton county, Ohio, where he was raised and educated. He 
continued on his father's farm until 1861, when he enlisted in the union 
army uuder Gen. Sherman, Co., D, 48th Ohio regiment, and was in the 
army three years. He was wounded once, in the shoulder by a minnie 
ball, at Arkansas Post; was discharged at Indianapolis, and returned 
home. On the 26th of October, 1865, he was married to Miss Margaret 
Smith, of Lafayette county, Ohio. The following spring he moved to 
Johnson county, Mo., and in 1868, he moved to this county, locating six 
miles southwest of Aullville, purchasing 160 acres, known as the old 
Honey Ford farm, on Davis Creek, and has devoted his attention a good 
deal to raising stock, especially horses. He has five children: Leona 
M., Bardolia A., Georgia A., Mary K., and Maggie, all living. Both 
himself and wife, and three of his children are members of the M. E. 
church. He is a good farmer, good neighbor and a good citizen. 

GEORGE OSBORN, 

P. O., Aullville, Mo., second son of John and Rachel Osborn. Was 
born in Columbia, Boone county, Mo., May 18, 1828. His parents, now 
dead, were from Kentucky, and came to Boone county as early as 1818. 
George moved the first time to Davis county, Mo., in 1841, where he 



516 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

remained twenty-four years, and then came to this county, September, 
1865, settling about two miles northwest of Aullville, where he now lives. 
In Sept. 1855, he was married to Miss Susan A. Rose, and has ten child- 
ren living: John F., Charles E., .Lou Bell, R. Lee, F. May, Ruth, Ida 
Ann, George, Alvin K., and Floyd. Mr. Osborn, has an excellent farm 
of 280 acres, underlaid by the best class of coal. The neighborhood use 
limestone rock for building purposes, and his house is built of stone from 
his own land. He is a member of the Baptist church, and a member of 
the Grange. His farm is of the first quality of corn and wheat land, and 
is well improved, with a large variety of fruit. He has twenty-two stands 
of bees; one half Black, and the other half Italian bees. 

HON. JAMES W. HARRISON, 

the subject of the following sketch, son of William W. Harrison, and the 
youngest of nine children, is a native of Davis township, Lafayette county, 
Missouri; born March, 1839. Was reared on a farm and educated in the 
common schools. His parents came to Missouri in 1838. They were 
both natives of Virginia ; his father of Madison county and his mother of 
Green county. His father died in 1876, at the advanced age of 82 years, 
and his mother in 1869, aged 69 years. James W. was married, Septem- 
ber 27, 1860, to Miss Ellen Davis, daughter of Dr. H. C. Davis. Nine 
children were born to them, seven of whom are now living, viz: Marcel- 
lus, William, Joseph, Fleet, Leslie R., Comorah and Estella. He now 
resides in Davis township, engaged in farming and stock-raising, owning 
a well watered farm of 400 acres of well cultivated land. In 1864, he 
enlisted in the confederate service, Co., C, Hunter's regiment, which was 
subsequently consolidated with Gen. Jackman's command. He entered 
the service as an orderly sergeant, and participated in the battles of Inde- 
pendence, Blues, Westport, Drywood, and Newtonia. June 16, 1865, he 
surrendered at Shreveport, being in command of the regiment, his supe- 
rior officers having resigned their position and gone to Mexico. In 1878, 
he was elected Justice of the county court, of Lafayette county. At the 
expiration of his term of two years, his judgment, and ability to fill the 
office were complimented by his re-election in 1880. Mr. Harrison and 
wife are members of the Baptist church at Aullville; postoffice, Aullville. 

DAVID C. SLUSHER. 

Mr. Slusher is a native of this state and county, born April 7, 1838, 
upon the farm where he now resides. His father, Roland Slusher, is 
native of Virginia, and came to Missouri in an early day. During the 
late war, Mr. S. remained at home, taking care of his own and mother's 
family. March 26, 1861, he was united in marriage to Rachel Ann Mc- 
Cormack. Five children were born to them, viz: John H., Roland F., 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 517 

Pearla May, Cora, and Catherine. During the war Mr. Slusher's house, 
was frequented by bushwhackers, and upon one occasion, they attacked 
a company of federal soldiers, within a short distance of the house, and a 
young man named Wade Morton was killed. Mr. Slusher and wife are 
members of the Bapiist church. P. O., Higginsville. 

WILLIAM W. PRESTON. 

Mr. Preston was born in Boone county, Mo., Feb. 4, 1836. He is the 
only son of John R. and Lourana Preston, who lived in Boone county 
until 1844, when they removed, with the subject of this sketch, to Lafay- 
ette county, where he was raised and educated, and after reaching man- 
hood, engaged in farming. In 1861, he enlisted in the confederate ser- 
vice, serving principally in the Eastern Miss. Department; was engaged 
in the seige of Vicksburg at the time of its fall. At the close of the war, 
he returned home and settled on his farm, where he lived until the spring 
of 1878, when he removed to Higginsville, where he has since resided, 
engaged in the mercantile trade. Jan. 2, 1879, he was married to Miss 
Jennie Fulkerson, by which union they have one child, Lourana, who was 
born, Oct. 17, 1879. Postoffice, Higginsville. 

REV. SAMUEL T. RUFFNER. 

Mr. Ruffner, the present pastor of the O. S. Presbyterian Church, at Hig- 
ginsville, is a native of Kanawha county, West Va., born February 27th, 
1836. In 1853 he moved with his parents to Missouri, and located in 
Lexington, Lafayette county. In 1855 he entered the Masonic College, 
at Lexington, where he remained for two years, afterwards attending 
Center College, at Danville, Kentucky, where he graduated with high 
honors, in 1858. After graduating, he taught school in Lexington, Mo., 
until the breaking out of the civil war, when he abandoned teaching, and 
in September, 1861, enlisted in the confederate service, Capt. John Bow- 
man's company, Col. Elliott's regiment. His first engagement was at 
Lexington, and his second at Pea Ridge. While at Memphis, Tenn., he 
was taken sick and sent to the hospital, where he remained until his dis- 
charge. His health being somewhat improved, he went to Hot Springs, 
Ark., where he remained until his health was entirely restored. He then 
associated himself with Capt. Roberts, who was then recruiting, having 
his headquarters at Tahlequah, Ind. Ter. From these recruits a battery 
was organized, of which Roberts was elected captain, and Mr. Ruffner, 
lieutenant. Immediately after the battle of Prairie Grove Capt. Roberts 
resigned, and Lieut. Ruffner took command, in which capacity he served 
until the surrender. Capt. Ruffner took part in all the principal engage- 
ments fought in his department. After the close of the war, he went to 
Nebraska and taught school for two years. In 1S69 he returned to Mis- 



518 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

souri, and began preparing for the ministry. He was licensed in 1872, 
and ordained in April, 1873. His first charge was the Waverly Pres. 
church, of which he was pastor for seven years. In November, 1879, he 
removed to Higginsville and took charge of the Presbyterian church there, 
of which he is the present pastor. June 13, 1877, he was united to Miss 
Lucy E. Jackson, of Rappahannock county, Va., by which union they 
have one child, Mamie, born February 17th, 1878. 

CARMI W. SHARP. 

Mr. Sharp is a native of West Virginia, born near Parkersburg, June 
27th, 1846. In 1856 he came with his parents to Missouri, and settled in 
this county, on the farm where he now resides, and engaged in its culti- 
vation. July 31st, 1870, he was married to Miss Harriet D. Carter, 
daughter of N. J. Carter, and a native of this county. By this marriage 
they have five children living: Nathaniel Carter, Sarah, Mary Gray, 
Lewis Green, and W. Gwinn. His mother, an aged lady in her 75th 
year, is living with him. She is in full possession of all her faculties, and 
enjoying good health for a person of her advanced age. Mr. Sharp's 
home place is a beautiful one, well improved, consisting of 80 acres, upon 
which is a fine orchard which produces many different varieties of fruit. 
He owns other farms besides this. His father was foully murdered by 
three men, who entered his house in February, 1865, and demanded 
money. Upon being informed that he did not have any, they deliberately 
shot him through the heart. Mr. Sharp's post-office address is Higgins- 
ville. 

WM. HARRISON ROBINETT. 

Mr. Robinett was born in Marion county, Mo., July 5th, 1832. He is a 
grandson of Capt. Abraham Bird, who was a member of the first legisla- 
ture held in the state, and also a grandson of John Robinett, one of the 
first settlers of Kentucky, and who moved to this state and settled in 
Boone county, in 1823. William H. lived with his father, Moses F., until 
he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the mercantile trade upon 
his own responsibility, which he followed until 1855, when he went to St. 
Louis and entered a commercial school, from which he graduated in 1856. 
He then entered the employ of Pomeroy, Benton & Co., one of the largest 
wholesale dry goods firms in the city of St. Louis, atasalaryof $1,200 per 
year. After remaining in their employ one year he left them, notwith- 
standing their offer to increase his salary to $3,000, and engaged as clerk on 
the steamer Keokuk, but at the earnest solicitation of his family he shortly 
after abandoned the river and went to Hannibal and engaged in the 
machine business, which he followed for two years, and then resumed the 
mercantile trade, in which he remained until the breaking out of the civil 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 519 

war. Being desirous that peace should exist between the north and 
south, he cast his influence in that direction; but when he saw that the 
war was inevitable, he cast his fortunes with the south, and was one of 
the first to raise the secession flag in the state, and joined one of the first 
companies raised commanded by Capt. Hawkins. He was afterwards 
transferred to the staff of Gen. Green, upon which he served until his 
health failed him, and he was obliged to leave the service. His health 
improving he again entered the service, and assisted Col. E. J. Gurley, in 
raising his regiment of "Partisan Rangers," of which he was appointed 
adjutant. While on a scouting expedition he was severely wounded, but 
he remained with his command and returned into camp. He was after- 
wards promoted to a captaincy for efficient service rendered. After the 
close of the war he remained in Texas, engaged in raising cotton and also 
in superintending a machine shop, until 1869. In December, 1865, he 
was married to Miss Catherine L. Vivion, of Texas. Four children were 
born to them: Minnie Lee, Ernest V., Walter P. and Roberta. In 1869 
he returned to Missouri and settled at Dover, Lafaj^ette county, where he 
remained until 1877, when he moved to Higginsville, where he has since 
resided, engaged as a machinist. 

JAMES J. RAY, 

farmer, P. O. Higginsville, sonof James H. and Hannah Ray, was born in 
Livingston county, Kentucky, May 6, 1835. His parents were natives of 
same state and county; his father being born in 1805 and his mother in 
1811. In 1838 his father moved his family to Missouri, locating in Macon 
county, within ten miles of where Macon City now stands. His father 
was a follower of Henry Clay, and always voted the whig ticket. He 
died August 28, 1860, and was followed by his wife nine years later. 
James J. was married to Miss E.J. Williamson, October 22, 1854, who 
died after the war. He was again married April 22, 1871, to Miss Nan- 
nie B. Rutter, of Palmyra, Missouri. They have one child, Daisy, born 
February 9, 1874. Mr. Ray was one of the first to respond to the call of 
Gov. Jackson for troops to defend the state of Missouri from invasion 
without and foes within, enlisting in the state guards for a six months term 
of service. His experiences during the progress of the war were quite 
remarkable, and peculiarly interesting, as related by himself in the follow- 
ing: "After serving out my time of enlistment in the state guards, I 
returned home to learn of the death of my father, and of my appointment 
as administrator of his estate. My bondsmen wished me to remain at 
home and attend to the property, fearing that if I entered the confederate 
service, the property would be confiscated, and they would consequently 
suffer. I complied with their request, and engaged in stock trading. 
While in St. Louis with two car loads of stock, I was obliged to take the 



520 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

oath of loyalty to the federal government, before I was allowed to return 
home. I told no one, except my family, what I had been obliged to do. 
In August, 1862, Col. Benjamin, in command of a company of federal mil- 
itia, stationed in my neighborhood, ordered that all southern sympathizers 
should take the oath of allegiance, and pay a commutation tax of $30, or 
go into the militia. The most of my neighbors paid the tax, but I did not. 
I concluded to join the confederates, and went to Gen. Green's at Shelbina, 
which place we captured after a sharp skirmish. I afterwards joined 
Porter and participated in the battles of Newark and Kirksville. At the 
latter place the federals made a charge, which we repulsed, with severe 
loss to them. The ball was then opened in earnest. Several of my com- 
pany were killed. A comrade by the name of Rains, who was badly 
wounded, called out to me not to leave him, and I called to another com- 
rade, a Mr. Zool, and together we started to carry him from the field. 
Just as we were ready to put him into a house, a cannon ball took off the 
head of Mr. Zool. I put the wounded man in the house, and started to 
find my company, but was captured in the attempt. Thirty-two of us, 
prisoners, were drawn up in line, that evening, and told that we were to 
be shot, but after keeping us there until sundown without a drop of water, 
or anything to eat, they confined us in an upper room until morning. We 
got nothing to eat or drink until eleven o'clock that day. The next morn- 
ing one Mr. Chaney, a merchant, came to me and told me that he thought 
we would all be shot. I gave him $25 and my wife's address, and he sai 
that if I was killed, he would send her the money. Soon after we were 
asked by McNeal if we would take the oath of allegiance to the federal gov 
ernment. We all readily consented and were accordingly sworn, providec 
with a pass and turned out of the den. I met Mr. Chaney, who returnee 
my pocket book and money, and said, with tears in his eyes, that he was 
glad to return me my own. I arranged my toilet as best I could under 
the circumstances and went to a hotel, where 1 remained three days, 
assisting in the care of some wounded soldiers, I was so ragged that I was 
ashamed to go home, but a merchant of the place, presented me with a 
complete suit of clothes; then I concluded to go home. I do not know the 
donor's name, but whoever and wherever he is, I pray that he may prosper. 
I traveled to Macon by stage and started to walk to my mother's place, ten 
miles out. On the road I overtook an old playmate, John Hunt, a radi- 
cal, to whom I told my troubles, not thinking to whom I was talking. In 
less than 24 hours my mother's house was ransacked for me, from cellar 
to garret, but I was at my own house, eight miles distant. A neighbor 
piloted the militia there at midnight. I awoke to look into the muzzle of 
a musket, in the hands of an old school-mate, who ordered me to get up. 
When the captain came in, he ordered a light and capped his revolver 
afresh. This alarmed my wife, and she asked him what he was going to 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 521' 

do with me. He answered her: "It is enough for you to know that we 

are going to take him out of here d d quick." I then showed him my 

pass, and after reading it he said: "I am an officer and will respect this, 
but you will be killed in less than two weeks if you stay here." He then 
left, with his command. The next Sunday I was called to the door by 
three men, who presented their pistols at me and bade me follow. They 
made me mount an old mare, that had a colt following her, and ride at 
least 15 miles with a sheep-pelt for a seat.. We stopped at Uncle Henry 
Roberts', on the way, and confiscated his saddle for my use. In a few 
hours the rest of the company came along, and arrested Uncle Henry, and 
made him ride to headquarters bare-back. He was not in a praying mood, 
just then, if he was an elder in the church. I was taken to the old Harris 
house, where I was kept for several weeks, with about a hundred others. 
The officers would not respect my pass, and shbrtly after about seventy 
of us were transferred to the McDowell college military prison at St. 
Louis, where we were detained for three months. While sitting at the win- 
doww one day, I threw a kiss at three ladies on the street, who responded 
by waving their handkerchiefs. They were arrested and put into prison 
for it. Soon after we were transferred to Alton, and while there the 
small pox broke out among us. It being very difficult to get nurses for 
the sick, I volunteered my services. I caught the disease, but having a 
very light attack, soon recovered. After being imprisoned , there and 
elsewhere for nine months, I was released under $3,000 bonds, went home, 
made a sale, and went to Virginia City, Montana, where I remained until 
the last of September, when I returned home. Finding affairs unsettled 
as yet, and thinking myself not safe, I concluded to go north. I landed in 
Omaha and the first letter I received from my wife, I learned that I had 
not been gone from the house a half hour, before the militia were after me. 
After an absence of six months, I returned and found evervthing quiet; 
those who had been the most eager to hunt me down, heretofore, have 
since seemed my very best friends. Such, are some of my experiences in 
what I term a rich man's war and a poor man's fight." 

WILL S. ANDERSON, 

Higginsville, is the son of Ira D. Anderson, who came from Warren 
county, Ky., and was one of the first settlers of Lafayette county. The 
subject of this sketch was born Aug. I,'l852. He remained with his par- 
ents till 1876, he then took a trip to Kentucky where he remained for a 
short time and then returned to his father's farm, taking occasional trips 
through different States. He then went to Higginsville, in July, 1881, 
and engaged in the livery business. 



522 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

FATHER FRANCIS C. CURRAN, 

Pastor of the Catholic church, Higginsville, was born in the couuty Lei- 
trim, Ireland, April 21, 1850. His preparatory education was received at 
Summer Hill college at Athlone; after this he attended St Patrick's College 
at Carlow, where he received his orders, M?iy 26, 1877. October 26, fol- 
lowing he reached St. Louis, Mo. Here he was assigned a charge as 
assistant p.istor for a few months, was then transferred to Kansas City, 
where he was assistant with Father Donley for three years or more, then 
was appointed to the St Mary's church at Higginsville. 

MORDECAI M. GLADDEN, 

was born in Warren county, Ky., Jan 16, 1838. Moved with his parents 
to this state in 1841 and located in Lafayette county where he was edu- 
cated in the common schools. In July, 186 L, he enlisted as a private in Capt. 
Fred. Neet's company, White's regiment, U. S. volunteers; was surrendered 
at Lexington. He then enlisted in the E. M. M., and was elected First 
Lieutenant of the company, but was discharged together with six other 
former members of White's regiment, by the governor because they were 
not subject to exchange. In May, 1864, he located in Warrensburg, 
Johnson county, Mo., and engaged in mercantile business where he re- 
mained until 1872. He then returned to the farm, Aug. 24, 1874 he was 
married to Miss M. J. McKee, of Clinton county, Mo. She died in about 
one year. He again was married to Miss Fannie E. Mills, daughter of 
Henry D. Mills. 

HILLORY JOY, 

farmer; born in Frederick county, Maryland, Aug. 25, 1817. He moved 
from Maryland to Maysville, Ky, in 1830 where he continued his profes- 
sion. He married Miss Evaline Norman the same year he came to 
Maysville. He then moved to Buchanan county, Mo., and remained until 
1816, then came to Lafayette county, and located at his present home. By 
the above marriage he has nine children — Wm. O., Geo. S., Lucy A., 
Mary, Benjamin, Eugene, Emma, Robert and Luther, all of whom are 
married save one. Mr. Joy has a nice farm of 180 acres, well im- 
proved throughout. On this farm he has a bank of coal of the best qual- 
ity and the vein about eighteen inches thick and can be worked by 
stripping or mining, and also has several stone quarries upon his farm. 

JAMES O. HOGAN, 

farmer; is the oldest son of Alexander C. Hogan, who was born March 
1, 1783, near Richmond, Va. The subject of this sketch came to this 
State with his father in 1839, and located where he now lives, upon land 
they entered soon after they came to the State. The father of James O. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 523 

Hogan is still living at the ripe age of ninety-eight years, and is as active 
as many a younger person, retaining his mental faculties and dividing his 
time visiting among his children. James was married April 27, 1853, to 
Miss Sarah A. Warren. By this marriage they have two living 
children: Eddie and Jerry. Mrs. Hogan died March, 18, 1857. 
September 1, 1857, was again married to Miss Euphemia M. Slusher. 
By this marriage he has four living children— Joanna, Eulalie M., 
James Henry and Nora Belle. In 1861 he enlisted in Gen. Joe Shel- 
by's command, and remained with him until he [Shelby] went south, 
then James joined Capt. Rathbun's company, Gordon's regiment, 
and was engaged in most of the battles that were fought by those 
commands; after the war he returned home and settled down to civil life. 

RICHARD T. CONN. 

John Maddox Conn, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a 
native of Ireland, where he was married. On his arrival here he settled 
in the colony of Virginia, and on the breaking out of the war that revolu- 
tionized the political status of the colonies, he, like most Irishmen of that 
period, joined the continental army. He raised quite a family, and 
became an early settler of Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he and his 
wife were both buried after long and useful lives. Our subject's father, 
John M. was eighteen years old when his parents settled in Kentucky. 
He soon became enlisted in the defense of the settlements against Indians, 
and the war of 1S12 beginning at this time, he joined the forces raised, 
and served in one or two expeditions against the Indians of the northwest, 
and was under the command of Gen. Harrison in his celebrated Indian 
campaign. He continued to reside in Bourbon county till his death. He 
became quite a wealthy farmer, and was a gentleman of considerable 
influence. His wife was formerly a Miss Mary N. Keene, by whom he 
raised ten children, eight of whom are still living: Dr. Notley, Dr. James 
V., Mary A., Ethline, Sophia, William, Sarah T. Mr. Conn was born in 
the ides of March, 1817. He received a liberal education, at Burlington, 
Boone county, and afterward took a clerkship in a dry goods house in 
Covington, where he soon rose to a partnership, and where he spent 
eleven years of his life. His health failing, he sold out his interests, and 
returned to his native home, and conducted his father's farm for three 
years. He moved to this county with his family in 1850, and bought the 
farm now occupied by Mills and Douthett. He bought his present home 
in 1856, a fine tract of four hundred acres, very handsomely improved, 
and well supplied with water, from never-failing springs, and fine coal. 
Mr. Conn is a neat and successful farmer, and has done something as a 
live-stock dealer. He was married in December, 1845, to Miss S. J. Polk, 
daughter of Col. Daniel Polk, and a relative of James K. Polk; also of 



524 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Trusten Polk, once governor of this state. They have two daughters: 
Annie V., the wife of S. W. Foder, a wealthy farmer of St. Louis county, 
and Miss Florence. 

LILBURN B. JENNINGS, 

is the son of John D. Jennings, who emigrated from East Tennessee, 
about the year 1816, and entered land in Dover township, near the town 
of Dover, where the subject of this sketch was born, April 16, 1825, and 
lived till the year 1849. His father then moved into Washington town- 
ship, where they lived for twenty years. During this time Mr. Jennings 
bought his present home in Davis township, where he now lives. On the 
11th day of November, 1844, he was married to Miss Eliza Rose, daughter 
of John W. Rose, of Kentucky. By this marriage nine children were born: 
James T., John D., Henry, George W., William, Mary, Martha J., Rich- 
ard C, and Edward R. Most of his children are married, and settled 
around him. Mr. Jennings and wife are both members of the Baptist 
Church. His father died under peculiar circumstances, having attended 
an election, and, on returning home, went to the field to cut a load of corn, 
and when driving into his barn with the load, a blade of the corn ran into 
his ear, destroying the drum of the ear; inflammation set in; he lingered 
about two weeks, when death came to his relief, and ended his sufferings. 

PHILIP E. AYERS, 

farmer, is the son of Thomas H. Ayers, who was born in Virginia; he 
came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1814, remaining here about two 
years, when he returned to Kentucky. In 1869, Philip again moved to 
this state and located where he now lives. On the 8th day of March, 
1859, he was married to Miss Addie Brown, of Jefferson county, Ken- 
tucky. She was the daughter of Hon. James Brown. By this marriage 
he has four children, living: Annie E., Lula M., Katie B., Ebert E. Mr. 
Ayers and wife are both members of the M. E. Church. He is also a 
member of the I. O. O. F. He was born December 23, 1836. His farm 
is underlayed with coal of fine quality, but as yet has not been fully devel- 
oped. 

H. H. LUCE, 

editor of Lafayette County Advance, P. O. Higginsville. The subject of 
this brief sketch is a native of Wisconsin; born in 1859. His father and 
mother are natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively. They 
moved to Wisconsin at an early period. At the breaking out of the Civil 
War, his father, C. D. Luce, enlisted in the Federal service. Being trans- 
ferred with his command to Missouri, he was very much pleased with the 
general appearance of the country and entered land in Andrew county, to 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 525 

which he moved his family in 1864. He was a sailor during the early- 
part of his life, having made three different vovages around the world, 
while acting in that capacity. The old gentleman died during the same 
year in which his family moved to this state. The family remained 
together on the farm -until 1873, when they removed to Savannah, the 
county seat of Andrew county. Here Homer, the subject of this sketch, 
was sent to school for a period of four years, after which he began the 
study of the law. Being in somewhat straitened circumstances, he taught 
school for two years and also contributed numerous articles to the vari- 
ous papers of the county, for the purpose of obtaining means for the 
prosecution of his studies. He also practiced law in the Lower Courts 
with an unusual degree of success. In 1879 he moved to Higginsville and 
assisted in establishing the Lafayette County Advance, the first and only 
newspaper published there. It is a staunch Democratic paper, very ably 
and profitably conducted by its young editor, who has the entire control 
and management of it. Although young in years and having been but a 
short time in the county, the youthful editor by his fertile brain and 
indomitable energy has contributed in a great measure, toward the pro- 
gress and development of its resources. His " maiden vote " was recorded 
for Hancock and English. On the 22d of November, 1880, he led to the 
marriage altar, Miss Katie E. Houx, oldest daughter of Geo. Houx, one 
of the oldest citizens of Lafayette county. 

JOSEPH R. MAJOR, 

merchant, P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Wellington, this county, Jan. 
8th, 1855. Is the son of Wm. B. Major and Prudence E. Warder, who 
were married in Lexington, Mo. In 1870 he went to Aullville and 
engaged in mercantile pursuits for two years at the expiration of which 
time he sold out his stock of goods and went into the grain business. In 
1878, April 21th, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kellar, of Aull- 
ville. In 1880 he removed to Higginsville and opened a hotel, complete 
in all of its appointments. The town being then in its infancy and the 
business not meeting his expectation , he sold out and again embarked in 
the grocery business . Mr. Major is a man of ability and enterprise, court- 
eous and obliging and thoroughly deserving of the liberal patronage of 
which he is the recipient. 

MARK A. BRADY, 

merchant, P. O. Higginsville. Is a native of Ireland; born in the Province 
of Ulster, Aug. 20th, 1837. Emigrated to the United States in 1857 and 
in 1860, returned to his native land, where he remained until the close of 
our Civil War. He then returned and settled for a time in Plainfield, 
u 



526 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Indiana. June 7th, 1868, he was married to Miss Katie D. P.Taggard, by 
which union he had two children; one of whom is living: Hugh. The 
other, a girl, was four and one-half years of age at the time of her decease. 
Mrs. Brady died June 8th, 1871. Aug. 7th, 1878, Mr. Brady moved to 
this state and county, locating at Higginsville, where he now resides, 
engaged in the prosecution of a lucrative mercantile trade. He is an 
active and consistent member of the Catholic church, and also a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

OWEN V. THORNTON, 

merchant, P. O. Higginsville. Was born in West Virginia, in 1844. 
Moved to Missouri in 1870. In 1872, he was married to Miss Rosa A. 
Loftus, of Saline county Missouri. They have two children living: 
George J. and' Vincent L. In 1S79, he moved to Higginsville. and in the 
fall of 1880, was elected principal of the high school of that place. He 
taught during the winter, and in the spring engaged in the mercantile 
business. Prof. Thornton has been a successful teacher of twelve years 
experience but he realizing the fact that a business life is much more 
independent and reliable, though not more honorable, determined to 
embrace the first good opportunity which presented itself of leaving the 
profession, and engaging in business. He has opened out a large and 
handsome stock of furniture, upholstering goods, carpets etc., which he is 
handling with profit to himself and satisfaction to others. 

ROBERT CURTIS CARTER, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Henrico county 
Va., January 12, 1838. Moved to Missouri in 1849, and settled at Dover, 
this county, where he remained until the breaking out of the civil war. 
He then enlisted in the confederate service under Gen. Jo. Shelby. He 
was regularly sworn in at Waverly, in August 1862. He was engaged in 
the battles of Coon Creek, Newtonia and in all of the skirmishes incident 
to the march of Gen. Shelby, through Missouri, in his endeavor to form a 
junction with Gen. Raines. Aiter the close of the war he returned to his 
old home in Missouri, and began the study of medicine; finally graduating 
from the medical department of the Old McDowell college, in 1868. He 
then returned to Dover, and began the practice of his profession, which 
he continued to follow there until the fall of 1874, when he removed to the 
northern part of the state and located in Gentry county, where he 
remained, still practicing medicine until March of 1880. He then returned 
to this county, and settled at Higginsville, where he now resides, the 
recipient of a large and lucrative practice. In 1868, he was united in 
marriage to Lenoir C. Campbell, oldest daughter of Capt. J. F. Campbell, 
one of the oldest settlers of this county. By this union they have four 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 527 

children: Frank L., Shannon, Carson and Mary Myrtle. By close appli- 
cation to business, and deep delving into the mysteries of medical science, 
the Dr. has obtained a popularity throughout the town and surrounding 
country, which is very desirable. 

RICHARD A. COLLINS, 

Attorney at law, P. O. Higginsville. " Captain Dick," as he is famil- 
iarly called, is the youngest son of Gen. Richard Collins, of Kentucky, 
and was born in Mason county, Kentucky, in December, 1841. In 1857 
he moved to Missouri. He was educated in Cincinnati, graduating from 
the St. Zazarier college. He has represented this (Lafayette) county, two 
terms in the State Legislature. Was in command of Gen. Jo Shelby's 
artillery, during the progress of the civil war. After the close of the 
war, he returned to Missouri and located at Higginsville, where he now 
resides, engaged in the practice of law. Capt. Dick is a young man of 
worth and stands at the top of the ladder in his profession. A whole 
chapter might be devoted to the gallant " Capt. Dick," and his exploits 
during the war, but for want of space and in consequence of an injunction 
served upon us by the captain himself, we will have to desist. 

ORVILLE A. JONES, 

Dentist, P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Carroll county, Virginia, in 
1843. Moved to Missouri in 1868, and settled at Warrensburg, Johnson 
county, where he remained until 1869, when he removed to Brownsville, 
Saline county, where he practiced dentistry from 1872 to 1875. In the 
latter year he moved to Aullville, this county, where he remained until 
1880, when he moved to Higginsville, and resumed the practice of his 
profession. In 1861 he enlisted in the confederate service under General 
Floyd. Was engaged in the battles of Cross Lanes, Cornfect's Ferry, 
Cotton Mountain, Blue Stone River, Parrisburg, Lewisburg, Rocky Gap, 
and several others too numerous to mention. After a fight at Rocky 
Gap he was transferred to Richmond and put under the command of 
Stonewall Jackson. From this time on he had no rest, their march being 
one continuous skirmish line. Was captured at Piedmont, in the Shenan- 
doah Valley, on the 5th of June, 1864, and taken to Camp Morton, where 
he remained until the 9th of April, 1865, when he was paroled. Just 
before his capture his regiment was one of the largest in the command, 
but at the fight at Piedmont, all but 74 were either killed or captured. 
The doctor is now practicing- dentistry in Higginsville, and has gained a 
wide-spread reputation as a man skilled in his profession. His patients 
come from far and near. 



528 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

JAMES H. BOWEN, 

merchant, P. O. Higginsville. Was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, 
January 24, 1846. Is the only son of Wm. H. Bowen and Julia Amelia 
Culp, both natives of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where they were mar- 
ried in 1844. In 1859 the family moved to Missouri and settled at Lex- 
ington, this county, where James prepared himself for college, which he 
entered at Gettysburg, in 1861, the family returning with him. He 
remained at college until the spring of 1862. On his return to Missouri 
he joined the U. S. Telegraph Corps as operator, under Captain P. C. 
Clovvry. Was sworn into the service in the spring of 1863, for three 
years, or the war. Was mustered out of service December 5, 1865, at 
Sedalia. After the close of the war, he returned to Lexington, where 
he remained until his marriage, which occurred on the 4th of July, 
1874. He married Miss Susan J. Pool, by whom he has three children: 
Farris Wade, Philip and Pleasant Henry. Mrs. Bowen is the daughter 
of Pleasant C. Pool, who is now living on his farm near Mayview. Mr. 
Bowen was engaged in farming until April, 1881, when he moved to Hig- 
ginsville, where he is now engaged in the mercantille business, liber- 
ally patronized by the people of the town and surrounding country. 

WM. H. LITTLEJOHN, 

farmer, P. O. Aullville. Is a native of this state and county; born Novem- 
ber 8, 1843. Was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools 
of this county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company " G," Col. Elliott's regi- 
ment, State Guards, in which he served for six months, and was mustered 
out at Osceola. He re-enlisted in Company " F," 1st Mo. Vol. Cavalry, 
as private. He fought in the following battles: Lexington (while in State 
Guards), Newtonia, Pineville, Fayettsville, Cassvilie, Prairie De Ann, 
Cove Creek, Helena, Little Rock, Springfield, Hartsville, Clarenden, 
Duval's Bluff, Prairie de Rone, Boonville, Jefferson City, Marshall, second 
battle of Lexington, Blue Mills, Independence, Westport, Little Osage, 
Warrensburg, Batesville, and several others of less note. At the battle 
of Prairie de Rone he was slightly wounded in the right knee. He sur- 
rendered at Lexington, with David Poole, in May, 1865. He then took a 
trip to Virginia City, Montana, where he remained for a short time, 
engaged in freighting. In December of same year he returned to this 
county, and went to his mother's farm, where he remained until his mar- 
riage, which occurred in 1873, he leading to the altar Miss Amanda 
Brown, a native of Johnson County. They have two children, named 
respectively, James and Mary. Since the war he has been engaged in 
farming and stock raising. His farm consists of 160 acres of first-class 
land, situated one mile west of Aullville. He also owns a fine farm of 180 
acres located in Johnson County. Is an. influential man and a good citizen. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 529 

DENNIS PAYNE, 

farmer, P. O. Aullville. Born in Scott County, Ky., October 11, 1834. 
When six or seven years of age, his parents brought him to this county, 
locating for a while in Lexington, and there settling upon a farm, where 
Dennis was reared; working on the farm summers and attending school 
winters. In August, 1862, he enlisted as private in Company " C," Gen. 
Shelby's Regiment, Volunteer Cavalry. Was engaged in the battles of 
Coon Creek, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Boon- 
ville, Jefferson City, Marshall, Helena, Hartsville, Batesville, Neosho, 
Duval's Bluff, and Camden. Was surrendered at Shreveport in 1865, 
when he returned to this county and located upon a farm consisting of 80 
acres, situated near Aullville, where he still resides, engaged in its cultiva- 
tion. In 1866 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Stephenson, a native of 
this state. Five children were born to them, named as follows: Joseph, 
Oliver, Augustus, Bryant, and Lee. Mr. Payne has a good record as a 
soldier, and stands high in the estimation of the community as a citizen. 

HORACE WILSON WINSOR, 

Superintendent of Winsor Coal Company, P. O. Higginsville. Is the only 
son of Hon. Edward Winsor; born in Lexington, Lafayette County, Mo., 
October 23, 1846. Lived there, attending school after arriving at the 
proper age, until April, 1864, when he went to Denver, Col., where he 
remained for a short time. On his return, in the September following, he 
went to Fulton, Mo., and entered the Westminster College, remaining 
there until March, 1865, when he went to St. Louis to attend Brvant & 
Stratton's Business College, which he attended at intervals until 1866. In 
March of that year he returned home and entered into partnership with 
his father in the insurance business, to which he still devotes a part of his 
time. In 1878 he engaged in the coal business with his uncle, N. B. Win- 
sor, with whom he remained until his death, which occurred in October, 
1879. In same year Mr. Winsor moved to Higginsville, where he has 
since acted as Superintendent of the Winsor Coal Company. In June, 
1871, he became a member of the A. F. and A. M., Lexington Lodge, 
No. 149. In August became a member of Chapter No. 10, of R. A. 
M., and in January, 1872, a member of the De Molay Commandery, No. 
3. Was elected Master of the Lexington Lodge in 1877, High Priest of 
the Chapter, and Eminent Commander of the Commandery. In 1878 was 
appointed Deputy Grand Master of the District, comprising Lafayette and 
Saline counties. Has been a representative to Baltimore, New Orleans, 
and Chicago, at the Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of 
K. T. During the seige of Lexington Mr. Winsor was in the city and 
saw the most of the battle. His father's residence is near the battle 



530 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ground, and was riddled by balls and grape shot. Mr. W. is a whole- 
souled, genial gentleman, and a man influential in public affairs. 

ADAM REED, 

livery stable P. O. Higginsville, is the son of Joseph Reed, Esq., born in 
Clinton county, Ohio, August, 23d, 1850. He moved to Missouri in 
about 1867, and settled in Lafayette county, where he remained, working 
on the farm with his father until 1877, when he embarked in business for 
himself; locating at Higginsville, he established a livery and sale stable, 
in which he is engaged at the present time. August 18th, 1880, he was 
married to Miss Sophronia Jennings, daughter of Rev. James Jennings, 
one of the old and prominent settlers of the county. Mr. Reed is a young 
man of promise, with health, energy and a determination to succeed in 
whatever he undertakes; qualities which are bound to win laurels for 
their possessor. 

LIEUT. COL. GEORGE P. GORDON, 

farmer, P. O. Concordia, the seventh child of Judge Thomas Gordon, 
was born in Henry county, Tenn., August 8, 1828. In May, 1831, the 
judge brought his family to Lafayette county, and entered some land near 
Lexington, which is now owned by Evan Young. Here the subject of 
this sketch was reared and educated, attending the high school at Lexing- 
ton, which at that time was under the supervision of Wm. Van Doran. 
In 1849 he went to California and traveled through the northern part, 
prospecting along the American and Nubia rivers and their tributaries. 
In January, 1852, he returned, reaching home about ten days before the 
death of his lather. He was married February 12th, 1857, to Miss Susan 
A. Corder, a daughter of Nathan Corder. She died April 15, 1873, leav- 
ing a bereaved husband with four children to mourn her loss. The chil- 
dren are named as follows: Nathan, John, Bird and Frank. In 1861 he 
enlisted in the state guards and afterwards in the regular confederate ser- 
vice, in which he remained until the close of the war. While in the state 
guards he held the rank of captain; was discharged from this service 
in December, 1861, and in the August following enlisted in the regular 
service. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of Major* by Gen. Hind- 
man, at the suggestion of Gen. Shelby, and in 1865 was again promoted 
to the rank of Lieut. Colonel, by Gen. Shelby, as division commandant; 
was engaged in the following battles: Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Prairie 
Grove, Springfield, Hartsville, Cape Girardeau, Helena, of Shelby's raid 
through southern Missouri, of Price's raid, and of several minor engage- 
ments too numerous to mention in this brief sketch. He surrendered in 
June, 1865, with Shelby's division, to Gen. .Frank Herron. Returning to 
his home he again resumed his occupation of farming. He was again 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 531 

married, March 31, 187-1, to Mrs. Nancy Corder, widow of Addison Cor- 
der. The fruit of this marriage is one child, Lulu. Colonel, or Major 
Gordon as he is better known, is a member of the Masonic lodge at Aull- 
ville, also an honored member of the O. S. Presbyterian Church. 

THOMAS M. ELSEA, 

farmer and stock trader, post-office Blackburn, is a native of Fauquier 
county, Va., born in 1834. At the age of seven } T ears, he came with his 
parents to Lafayette county, and located in the neighborhood of Corder. 
Here he grew to manhood and received his education. He then served 
an apprenticeship to the carpenter trade, near Elmwood, in Saline county, 
at which he worked for three years. In 1861 he -enlisted in Capt. J. O. 
Shelby's company, with which he remained until the battle of Pea Ridge, 
having previously participated in the battle of Lexington. After the bat- 
tle of Pea Ridge he was appointed steward of one of the hospitals, in 
which service he continued until 18(&. He was captured atCowskin 
prairie. In August, 1863, he went to Colorado, where he remained, 
engaged in mining, until the fall of 1865 when he returned to this county. 
Mr. Elsea was married in February, 1866, to Miss Sarah L. Ramsey, 
daughter of John W. Ramsey, of this county. They became parents ot 
seven children, three of whom are now living: Hannah V., Alonzo B. 
and Jessie. Mr. Elsea is a steady, industrious farmer, strictly honorable 
in his intercourse with his fellow citizens. 

GROVE YOUNG, 

merchant, P. O. Higginsville, is a native of this state and county, born 
August 26, 1843; was raised and educated here. In 1870 he was united 
in marriage to Miss Ella L. Greer, of Johnson county, Mo. They have 
one child, Alexander J., now in his ninth year. In 1874 he engaged in 
the mercantile business at Aullville, where he remained until 1879, when 
he moved a portion of his stock to Higginsville, where he now resides, 
engaged in the sale of dry goods and notions. Mr. Young is a thorough 
business man, fully alive to the interests of his native county, the devel- 
opment of which he has watched with much pleasure and satisfaction. 

JOHN MADISON CANTERBURY, 

P. O. Higginsville; the oldest son of Franklin P. and Nancy Canterbury, 
was born in Lawrence county, Ky., November 17th, 1S33. His parents 
moved to Missouri in 1835, and settled in Audrain count}-, near Mexico, 
where the subject of this sketch lived until 1875. He was united in mar- 
riage April, 1852, to Miss Helen Smith, of Kentucky. By this union 
they have seven children: Nannie E. (married Joseph Pruette), born in 
1853; Frank P., born in Audrain county, Nov. 25, 1856; James W., born 



532 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

July 8, 1860; Clara, born February 25, 1863 (married to Joseph Hatcher, 
July 16, 1880); Helen, born July 16, 1866; Bird Price, born December 1, 
1869; Enna, born July 8, 1873. Leaving Audrain county he removed his 
family to Clay county, near Kansas City, where he remained until 1878; 
then going to Higginsville where he now resides. Mr. C. is a descendant 
of Archbishop Canterbury, of England, also closely allied to Benj. Frank- 
lin. He is a thorough-going, public spirited, influential gentleman, in the 
full enjoyment of vigorous health. Although not possessing a supera- 
bundance of this world's goods, his heart and hand always respond to the 
cry of distress. His present family consists of his own unmarried chil- 
dren, those of his brother Benjamin (who settled in Audrain county, Ky., 
in 1835), and himself, he having the misfortune to lose his wife November 
19, 1880. In 1875 his grandmother died at the advanced age of 93 years. 
Up to this date there were 160 members of the Canterbury family, 31 of 
them deceased; the living all located within a half day's journey of each 
other. In this new world of trial and vicissitude, it is seldom that all the 
members of so large a family remain within visiting distance of each 
other; the necessary changes of life generally scattering them to the four 
quarters of the globe. They are certainly to be congratulated upon hav- 
ing been able to preserve intact the family circle for so long a time. 

GEORGE W. VIVION, 

hotel proprietor, P. O., Higginsville. Born in Clark county, Ky., March 
24, 1821. Was raised on a farm. In 1833 he came to Lafayette county 
and in 1838, enlisted in a Lafayette county regiment, and engaged in the 
Mormon war. Went to the far west and returned with his command, 
after which he engaged in various pursuits until 1846, when he enlisted in 
Doniphan's company, for service in the Mexican war. Was in the service 
fourteen months. In 1859 he removed to Coryell county, Texas, where he 
remained until after the close of the civil war. Was not engaged on 
either side. Followed blacksmithing, carpentering, etc. In the fall of 
1839, he was married to Mary E. Walker, daughter of Samuel Walker, 
one of the first settlers of this county. Nine children were born to them, 
viz: Charles W., Kate L., now wife of Mr. Robnett, Flavel W., Nancy 
E., wife of G. A. Chamblin, Eliza, wife of R. E. Chamblin, Samuel W., 
Lee Emmitt, Lula and Anna. He has twenty-four grand-children. In 
1866, he came back to Lafayette county, and in the fall of 1872, went to 
Higginsville, where he now resides. Lost twenty slaves by the war; had 
two sons in the confederate army: Charles W., in Gurley's command in 
Texas, and Flavel W., with Gen. Price. Owns 520 acres of land in this 
county. Mr. Vivion and wife are members of the Christian church, res- 
pected by all. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 533 

HARVEY J. HIGGINS, 

larmer, postoffice, Higginsville. Is a native of Fayette county, Ky.; born 
Sept. 19, 1812. Lived there until 22 years of age, when he moved to 
Liberty, Ills., where he lived five years, engaged iu the mercantile trade. 
In about the year 1840, he landed at Hillman's Landing, (now known as 
Berlin), and purchased 460 acres of land, (where he now resides), in the 
cultivation of which he has since been engaged. When he first came he 
sold bacon for two cts. a pound and No. 1 wheat for twenty-five cents per 
bushel. Was one of the incorporators of the Chicago & Alton railroad, 
of which he is still a director. Also was one of the directors of the old 
Pacific railroad, and a strong advocate of its being built through Lafay- 
ette county. Has been a leading worker in all railroad enterprises for the 
benefit of his adopted county, aiding liberally with time and money. At 
times he has been severely censured bv some for what he has done in that 
direction, but he feels sure that posterity will approve of his work. Mr. 
Higgins was the founder of the town of Higginsville, formerly owning 
the land upon which it is built. It is named for him. He has been mar- 
ried three times; his first wife was Miss Susan Tyler; they were married, 
May 9, 1839. His second wife was Mrs. Eleanora Holland, married Nov. 
18, 1855. His third was Miss Carrie F. Young, of this county, daughter 
of Maj. A. G. Young. He is the father of five living children, two sorts 
and three daughters; all married but the youngest. Mr. H. is a member 
of the Presbyterian church, of which he is now an elder. Has been con- 
nected with the church for thirty years; has served as magistrate for the 
last four or five years, discharging his duties in that capacity in a credita- 
ble manner. Was unfortunate during the war, losing property of the 
value of $25,000. 

OLIVER K. BURNS, 

insurance and real estate agent, postoffice, Higginsville. The subject of 
the following is a native of Jefferson county, Va., born May 5, 1825. 
Came to Lafayette county and settled in Dover township in 1841. During 
the year 1857, he was engaged in a commission and storage house in St. 
Louis. He afterwards lived in Carroll and Saline counties, living at Wav- 
erly, when the war broke out. In 1864, he joined Price on his raid, enlist- 
ing in company C, Gordon's regiment; had no arms for some time; was 
in action at Newtonia; surrendered in 1865, at Shreveport. Lived in 
Waverly till 1878, when he came to Higginsville. Is a member of the 
school board, of which he was president last year. In 1850, he was uni- 
ted in marriage to Lucy S. Van Meter. Thirteen children were born to 
them, seven of whom are now living. Mr. Burns is an old line whig and 
protectionist, but votes the democratic ticket. He has a good record 
as a soldier and a gentleman, and is a man of ability and influence. 



534 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

SETH MASON, 

farmer, Higginsville Post office, was born in Frederick county, Va., July 
19th, 1816; was educated at private schools and at William and Mary 
College. Lived in his native county engaged in farming until 1854, when 
he came to Lafayette county and located upon a farm, originally owned 
by Mrs Ward, a sister of Gen. F. P. Blair, Jr. In 1861 he organized and 
led a company to Camp Hollowayfor the purpose of repelling invasion. 
In the latter part of August the company was disbanded. His health 
being considerably impaired, he took no further active part in the war, but 
sympathized with the south. He was greatly harrassed by the Fedrals. 
In 1870 he was assaulted by one Thompson McDaniel, an ex-guerrilla under 
Poole and a noted desperado. He was wounded three times, disabling 
both arms to such an extent that he was obliged to lie in bed for three 
weeks, and is still greatly crippled. Being wholly unarmed he was unable 
to defend himself and the villain escaped for the time unscathed. A party, 
led by his son Edward, went in pursuit of McDaniel and followed him to 
Atchison, Kansas, but did not succeed in rinding him there. In a few 
days McDaniel returned to Higginsville with a pal named Parker. They 
encountered the parly which was in pursuit of McDaniel and a skirmish 
ensued. Parker was killed, McDaniel escaping to Kentucky, where he 
was afterwards killed. The captain was married to Miss Amelia P. Earl, 
of Frederick county, Va. They became the parents of fifteen children, 
ten of whom are living, four sons and six daughters, all living in this 
county. Mr. M. came very near losing his life on account of following a 
company of Federals, for the purpose of recovering three of his 
slaves of which he lost eleven during the progress of the war. He is 
owntr of 300 acres of fine farming lands and a man highly respected 
by his fellow-citizens. 

AI EDGAR ASBURY, 

banker, Higginsville. Mr. Asbury was born in Pruntytown, Taylor 
county, West Virginia, August 16, 1836. He was partly educated at 
Rector College, Virginia, and finished his education at Allegheny College, 
Pennsylvania. In 1857 he removed with his father's family to Richmond, 
Ray county, Mo. Here he studied law in the offices of C. T. Garner and 
Hon. Mordecai Oliver, formerly member of congress and afterwards 
secretary of state of the state.- In 1859 he was admitted to the bar and 
removed to Texas county, and practiced his profession until the breakings 
out of the civil war, when he took service on the side of the south, first 
in the service of the state of Missouri, and afterward, and until the close 
of the struggle, in that of the Confedrate States. In 1865 he returned to 
Missouri and engaged as clerk in his brother's store at Dover, in this 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 535 

county. In a short time, comparativly, he engaged in business 
for himself as a meixhant at Dover, where he remained until 1878, 
when he returned to Higginsville and opened a banking house. 
In 1880 he organized the Asbury-Catron banking company, of which 
he is still the senior member. Mr. Asbury was married Nov. 9, 
1865 to Miss Ellen Knox Gaw, of Lafayette county, who was born May 15, 
1842. They have been the parents of seven children, two of whom died 
in infancy and five are living, viz: Eva Garnett, Hugh Gaw, Leah Barn- 
ett. Ai Edgar, Jr., and Harvey N. He is a member of the masonic order 
and he and Mrs. Asbury are members of the Baptist church. He has 
large interests in the coal mines near Higginsville, on the Chicago & 
Alton railway, is proprietor of Asbury's addition to the town of Higgins- 
ville, and is possessed of a fair competency of this world's goods, every 
dollar of which has been honestly acquired by himself, for in almost every 
sense Mr. Asbury is a self-made man. At the close of the civil war, and 
upon his return to Lafayette county, his capital was a $20 gold piece, all 
that was left of the proceeds of the sale of his horse and pistols after his 
surrender at Galveston, Texas. Capt Asbury's record as a soldier is a 
remarkable one. His first service was as conductor of a wagon train of 
powder, which he conveyed from Jefferson City to the camp of Gen. J. 
H. McBride, about 150 miles. This was a perilous service since the road 
was rough and rock}-, the powder sifted from the kegs continuously and 
the wheels of the wagons struck fire at almost every revolution. On 
reaching the camp of Gen McBride that officer appointed him an Aide-de- 
Camp on his staff with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In this capacity 
he served in the battles of Oak Hill, Dry Wood, Lexington and in Zagon- 
yi's attack on Springfield. At Elk Horn or Pea Ridge, he was on the 
staft'of Gen. Frost. He served twelve months in the service of the state, 
and upon the expiration of this term engaged under Gen. McBride in 
recruiting troops for the Confederate States, during which service he was 
engaged in many an adventure and skirmish with the enemy. April 20, 
1863, at West Plains, Howell county, this state, he was captured together 
with his company of recruits intended for Cornell's regiment of Missouri 
volunteers. Capt. Asbury was a prisoner of war for twelve months, dur- 
ing which period he endured extreme privations and sufferings, not to 
mention indignities at the hands of his captors. While enjoying (?) the 
hospitalities of Federal prison-keepers he was frequently confined in filthy 
prison cells, half-starved and clad, and incarcerated closely for many 
weeks at a time. At St Louis not long after his capture he was paroled 
with 27 other officers and started for City Point, Va., for the purpose of 
being exchanged, where he arrived and exchange being refused he was 
placed in Fort Norfolk. On the way from Fort Norfolk to Fort Dela- 
ware, the vessel — the Maple Leaf — upon which he and about f 00 other 



536 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Confederate officers were, was seized by about ten daring spirits, who 
overpowered the guard, forced the engineers to land, and, after adminis- 
tering paroles to the officers and crew, struck out for the Confederate lines 
which they reached in safety. Twenty-seven of the prisoners, Capt. A. 
among the number, took no part in the emeute, having due regard for 
their paroles and refused to escape. Notwithstanding they had sworn to do 
no act in aid of the Federal government until exchanged the officers of 
the Maple Leaf, as soon as their captors were out of sight, placed 
the twenty-seven paroled Confederates under gaurd, and instead of 
taking the vessel to her destination, steamed away to Fortress Monroe 
and from there to Fort Delaware. From here Capt. Asbury and his com- 
rades were taken to Jonhson's Island, in Lake Erie. In February, 1864, 
he was exchanged at Richmond, Va., and went to the parole camp at De- 
mopolis, Ala. From Demopolis he made an adventurous journey to the 
army of Gen. Price in Arkansas, joining Gen. Shelby's division, at Bates- 
ville. In the fall of 1864 he came into Missouri with a recruiting force, 
commanded by Col. Rathbun, in advance of Gen. Price's army. The 
force captured Lexington and Capt. Asbury conscripted the town. After 
Price's army passed through Lexington, Capt. Asbury crossed the river 
with 18 others, and became temporarily attached to Bill Anderson's guer- 
rillas, and was present when Anderson was killed. After this event Arch 
Clements took command and led the force around Richmond, across the 
Missouri at Brunswick, and Capt. A. soon made his wayto the Confederate 
armyunder Gen. Kirby Smith, in Arkansas. With this army he served 
until the close of the war, when, as before stated, he surrendered at Gal- 
veston, Texas, in June, 1865, and returned to Missouri, arriving at Dover, 
July 9, following. 

ANTHONY BENNING, 

P. O. Mayview. One of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Lafay- 
ette county. Was born in Fayette county, Ky., Sept. 9, 1809, where he 
was raised on his father's farm, and educated at Georgetown, Kv. At the 
age of twenty he taught school for several years, then went to Washing- 
ton City and spent four years as clerk in the postoffice department, under 
Wm. T. Barry, postmaster-general during Jackson's second administra- 
tion. His eyesight failed him in consequence of the incessant labors of 
that position, and he was compelled at last to resign, returning to Ken- 
tuky and farming for a time. He then moved to Missouri and settled in 
this county, bringing with him about $6,000, his own earnings, and pur- 
chased 160 acres one mile south of where Mayview now stands. Upon 
this foundation he built up, before he died, one of the finest estates in the 
county. During the war he lost heavilv in slaves and personal property 
His costly dwelling was burned and himself thrown into prison. He was 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 537 

harried by the militia and finally banished. After the war he returned to 
this county, and bought a home in Lexington, where he lived with his family 
till his death, March 18, 1872, though he continued to superintend to the 
last his large farming interests in the southern part of the county. He was 
strictly honorable, prompt and energetic in all business matters. He had 
no political aspirations, and though he could have obtained almost any 
office in the county or state, he constantly declined all political preferment. 
He was the first postmaster of Mayview, then called Tabo, which he held 
for years as an accommodation to his neighbors. On the 9th of October, 
1850, he married Miss Bettie Spurr, daughter of Dr. Buford Spurr, of 
Kentucky. Her mother's maiden name was Judith Gray. Mrs. Benning 
is the great-grand-daughter of the venerable Augustine Easton, who, for 
over half a century, was a Christian minister of Bourbon county, Ky. 
The great-grandfather of Maj. Benning was a pioneer of the state of Ver- 
mont, where the family was well known and stood high. Mrs. Benning 
still survives her husband, and has six children living out of a family of 
eight— James A., Taylor B., John G., Ottie V. — now wife of Thomas M. 
Chinn— Robert E. and Thomas E. 



DOVER TOWNSHIP. 
JARED J. CALDWELL, 

stock-trader and farmer, Dover P. O. The subject of this sketch is a native 
of Kentucky; born in 1849. His parents came to Missouri in 1857, locat- 
ing in this county, where Jared is still living, engaged in the cultivation of 
a fine blue grass farm of 124 acres. His mother still living, residing with 
him; his father being dead. Mr. C. is an industrious and enterprising 
business man, of unimpeachable integrity, possessing the confidence of all 
who have any dealing with him. 

SAMUEL BIGGERSTAFF, 

engineer and saw-mill operator, Dover P. O. Was born in Monroe Co., 
Ky., Aug. 15, 1824. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Cumberland 
county aud located on a farm, upon which the young man grew to man- 
hood. Obtained his education in the common schools of that county. In 
1846 he came to Clinton Co., Mo., where he lived until 1851, when he 
came to this county, where he has resided since, engaged in engineering 
and operating a saw-mill which he owns, it being the first mill with a cir- 
cular-saw apparatus ever brought into the count)'. July 19, 1844, he was 
married to Miss Hizia Hill, of whom he was bereaved after seventeen 
short months of wedded happiness. In 1847, July 18, he was again united 
in marriage to Miss M. J. Beck, by whom he had seven children, five of 



538 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

whom are now living — Asa W., John M., Thomas J., Catherine B. and 
Ottie L. For the second time he was called upon to mourn the loss of a 
wife, she being thrown from a carriage while out riding, from the effects 
of which she shortly afterwards died. Nov. 20, 1869, he was married to 
Mrs. E. J. Inman, of this county. By this union he has one child — Willie. 
Mr. B. has been a resident of this county for a number of years, and is 
closely identified with its interests. Is a man of liberal views, clear headed 
and of good judgment. 

JOHN B. BURBRIDGE, 

retired farmer, P. O. Dover. Born in Clark county, Kentucky, March 
10, 1826. Was educated at the Transylvania University, at Lexington, 
Kentucky, from which he graduated, in about the year 1847. Aiter 
graduating, he removed to Garrett county, where he practiced medicine 
for one year. From thence, he went to Shelby county, and engaged in 
farming, which occupation he followed until December of 1850, when he 
came to this state and county, and located upon a farm, which he culti- 
vated until a short time since, when he retired from active life, and is now 
residing about one-half mile west of Dover, enjoying the fruit of many 
years of unremitted toil. In 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss E. 
O. Buchanan, of Baltimore, Maryland, a relative of ex-President Buchanan. 
By this marriage he had four children: Mary, Elizabeth D., Sallie M., 
Emma B. His wife dying, he was married again, to Miss Emma A. 
Hilliard, of Lafayette county. Mr. B. has long been a resident of this 
county; is a man of strict integrity, and unimpeachable character; ready 
with money and counsel to further the development and progress of the 
natural resources of the county of his adoption. 

N. A. SHORES, 

blacksmith, P. O. Dover. Is a native of Illinois; born in St. Clair county, 
September 24, 184S. His father being dead, his mother moved to Cum- 
berland county, Illinois, when he was quite small. He lived with his 
grandfather until he was nine years of age. His grandfather dying, he 
was thrown, at this early age upon the cold charities of an unfeeling 
world, with no resources but his own unaided exertions, to keep him from 
want and misery. Being active and intelligent, and willing to work, he 
succeeded in maintaining himself comfortably, until the year 1S62, when 
he enlisted as drummer boy in the Sixty-first Illinois infantry. He, how- 
ever, shouldered a musket, and entered the ranks with the rest, partici- 
pating in the following battles, in which he carried himself with the bear- 
ing of a veteran: Vicksburg, Fort Donelson, Little Rock, Helena, and 
other minor engagements. At the close of the war, he was mustered out, 
wearing the shoulder-straps of a first lieutenant, having, by meritorious con- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 539 

duct, risen from the post of drummer boy to that of the second in com- 
mand of a company. Returning home, he worked with his uncle, at 
the blacksmith's trade, for a short time, after which he went to California, 
where he spent ten years, traveling about and engaging in various occu- 
pations. In the summer of 1880, he returned to Higginsville, engaging in 
the restaurant business, until fall, when he went to Dover, where he now 
resides, working at his trade. 

DR. E. R. MING, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Dover. The Dr. is a native of Missouri; 
born in Callaway county March 13th, 1849. His father was a native of 
Virginia; born March 13th, 1813. Came to Missouri at an early da v, 
locating in Callaway county. He was married to Miss Elmira Harrison, 
a resident of Boone county, Missouri, and a native of the same. Their 
nuptials were celebrated in 1846. Seven children were born to them, 
as follows: John W., Edwin R., Bettie T., Laura E., Annie M., V. Lee 
and J. Samuel. In 1853, when E. R. was four years of age, the family 
moved to this county and located at Dover, where his father, being a 
physician, opened an office and pursued a successful practice. He after- 
wards opened a drug store, which, with the aid of E. R., he operated in 
connection with his other duties. The old gentleman died Oct 6th, 1880. 
Mrs. Ming is still living in Dover. The subject of this sketch was raised 
and educated primarily in this county. In 1874 he entered the Missouri 
Medical College at St. Louis, from which he graduated in the spring of 
1876, acquitting himself with high honors. Since then he has been 
engaged in the drug business and the practice of medicine in Dover and 
vicinity. The Dr. is a finished scholar and a genial gentleman, eminently 
worthy of the liberal patronage accorded him by an admiring community. 
While applying himself closely to private affairs, he is not unmindful of 
public interests, and by his clear and logical analysis of cause and effect, 
and keen insight into the true inwardness of any enterprise, great or small, 
has contributed largely to the welfare of the county generally. 

G. E. DICKSON, 

farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Dover. Born in Lincoln county, Ky., 
April 5th, 1832. His parents left Kentucky in 1838 and came to Missouri, 
spending one year in Cooper county and then in '39 coming to Lafayette 
county, where the subject of this sketch was educated, partially, attending 
school for a time at Sweet Springs, Saline county. Was engaged in 
farming until 1854, when he went to California, where he remained for 
five years, engaged in stock trading. Came back to Missouri in 1859 — 
remained until '61, and returned to California. He remained there three 
years and then went to Idaho and stopped two years there. Again 



540 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

returning to Lafayette county, he settled upon a fine farm of 920 acres, 
where he now resides, engaged in its cultivation; also giving special atten- 
tion to raising stock. Mr. Dickson is an intelligent, progressive, farmer; a 
man who believes that a mere knowledge of how to plough and sow does 
not constitute all of the requirements of a first-class husbandman. A 
glance at his well appointed farm and plentiful crops will show at once that 
he combines reading and observation with his experience. In 1868 he 
was united in marriage to Miss Laura Brown, of Lincoln county, Ky. 
Three children were born to them, named as follows: William, Nora 
Belle and Joshua B. Mr. Dickson, ,Sr., is a native of Kentucky; born in 
1797. He is still living in this county and enjoys good health for an 
octogenarian. 

F. H. BRAY, 

machinist. P. O. Waverly. Is a native of Christian county, Missouri; 
born July 9, 1845. Was educated at the Ozark Normal Institute, where 
he was at the breaking out of the war. He then enlisted for one year in 
the confederate army under Gen Price. Fought in all the battles of Cor- 
inth, and at the fall of Vicksburg. Was then transferred to the west of 
the Mississippi, and was engaged in the battle of Saline river, which was 
the last of any note. At the close of the war, the family moved to this 
county, where they have since resided. Mr. Bray learned his trade of 
his father. Since settling in this county, he has been engaged principally 
in smithing and farming upon a small scale. He also owns the largest 
steam thresher in the county, which he operates during the season. July 
9, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss N. C. Weedin, of this county. 
They have one child : Miles Edwin. His wife dying, he *vas married the 
second time to Miss M. E. Love, also of this county. By this union he 
has also one child, named Harris Leslie. His father was a native of N. 
Carolina, and came to Mo. in 1844. The place of his residence is called 
Braytown, in honor of his family. Mr. Bray has been a resident of this 
county for several years, and its development bears the impress of his 
good judgment and active co-operation. 

B. F. CORBIN, 

farmer. P. O. Corder. Born in Rappahannock county, Va., January 24, 
1822. Was educated and grew to manhood in his native state. Septem- 
ber 7, 1851, he came to Mo.; stopping one year in Howard count}--, then 
coming to this county, where he has since resided, settling in 1854, upon 
the farm he occupies at the present time. It consists of 165 acres of well 
improved farm land, and bears the impress of an experienced hand in all 
its belongings. August 18, 1862, he enlisted in the confederate army, 
under Gen. Shelby. Fought in the battles of Lexington, Springfield, 






. 1 




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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 541 

Prairie Grove, Hartsville, Helena, Pine Bluffs, Marks Mills, Cape Girar- 
deau, Westport, Newtonia, besides other minor engagements. Was hon- 
orably discharged at Shreveport, in June 1865. Was never wounded, but 
had his gun shot from his hands, twice. Mr. Corbin was first married, 
December 24, 1844, to Miss Francis M. Miller, of Va. They became 
parents of six children, named respectively as follows: Francis E., Henry, 
James W., Lula, Richard L., and Miller J. Mrs. Corbin dying, he was 
married again to Miss C. E. Carrolton, of this county, a native of Alabama. 
This union is blessed with five children: Estella, Bennie E., Mary A., 
Paulina and Mecham. Mr. Corbin deals considerably in stock. He is a 
man of strict integrity and good business habits. Is one of the substan- 
tial citizens of the county, honored by all. 

HARRISON STEELE, 

farmer. P. O. Dover. The subject of the following is a native of this 
state and county, and was born on the 8th of October, 1849. Was edu- 
cated in the common schools of this county, and has always followed the 
independent life of a farmer. His father was a native of Pa., and came 
to Missouri in 1838, settling in this county, where he died, his wife and 
five children surviving him. Mr. Steele has been identified with the inter- 
ests of the county all his life, and is a young man of worth, taking an 
active part in public affairs. 

HENRY L. CORBIN, 

farmer, P. O. Dover. Is a native of Virginia, born in Rappahannock 
county, June 12, 1845. His father moved to Missouri in 1851, and to this 
county in 1852, of which Henry, our subject, has ever since been a resi- 
dent, with the exception of nine months spent in the army. Has always 
been engaged in farming. In October, 1864, he enlisted in confederate 
army, Col. Gordon's regiment, company C, Gen. Shelby's brigade. Was 
engaged in the battles of Westport, Cane Hill, and several other engage- 
ments of less note. Was honorably discharged at Shreveport, in June, 
1865. He then returned to this county, making the trip from Shreve- 
port to Waverly by water. June 10, 1869, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Potter, of this county; six children were born to them, named 
as follows: Willie F., Thomas C, Ottie M., Henry, Edward and Sallie. 
Mr. C. owns a fine farm of 250 acres, upon which is built a handsome 
residence, and substantial outhouses. It is under a high degree of 
improvement, showing substantial evidence of the practical knowledge 
and enterprise of its owner, 
v 



542 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

J. A. JEFFRIES, 

farmer, P. O. Dover. The subject of our sketch was born in Fauquier 
county, Virginia, April 14, 1839. Was educated in his native state and 
came to Missouri at the age oL 19, and settled in this county, where he has 
since resided, the greater part of the time. In May, 1861, he enlisted in 
the confederate army under Gen. Shelby, Col. Gordon's regiment, com- 
pany A. Participated in the battles of Carthage, Springfield, Newtonia, 
Marks Mills, Marshall raid, Helena, Little Rock, and many other minor 
engagements. Left the service at Corsicana, Texas, he, like many others, 
never having been regularly discharged. He then went to Mexico, where 
he remained ten or eleven months, engaged in farming. From thence he 
went to California and engaged in the same occupation there for about the 
same length of time. He then went to Virginia where he remained for a 
short time and then came back to this county. In 1873, was married to 
Miss Sallie J. Dickson, of: this county. They have four children: Mar- 
garet, Emma, Lizzie, Sallie. 

N. F. FOX, 

farmer and miller, P. O. Dover; is a native of this state and county; born 
July 1, 1827; has always been^ resident of Dover township. Was raised 
on a farm and educated in this county. In 1855 he went into the milling 
business, operating a saw-mill, in partnership with Samuel Biggerstaff, 
situated three-fourths of a mile east of Dover. In September, 1862, he 
enlisted in the confederate army, under Shelby, Gordon's regiment, com- 
pany B; was engaged in the battle of Newtonia, where he was severely 
wounded in the thigh. Was taken prisoner about the LSth of October, 
1862, and taken to St. Louis. From there he was taken to Alton, where 
he remained until June, 1863, when he was exchanged and ordered to the 
east, arriving in Richmond, Virginia, the last of June, and joining the com- 
mand of Gen. Forrest, was engaged in several skirmishes and was again 
captured at Penola, Mississippi, February, 1864. He was taken to Spring- 
field and there took the oath and returned home. In 1848, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Sarah E. McCool, of this county. Their union is blessed 
with five children, as follows: Sarah E., Susan A., Wm. N., Delia R., 
and Robert E. Mr. Fox is a veteran of the Mexican war, having served 
for one year under Col. Easton. He has a good record as a soldier and is 
a citizen of worth and merit, respected by all. 

CAPT. R. TODHUNTER, 

breeder of blooded stock, P. O. Dover. The captain is a native of Ken- 
tucky, born in Jessamine county, February 10, 1841; was educated at the 
Transylvania University, at Lexington, Kentucky, attending during the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 543 

four years of '57 and '60, inclusive. Shortly after leaving school, he 
enlisted in the confederate army, under Gen. Churchill. Was commis- 
sioned captain and assistant-adjutant general, in 1863, January 16. Served 
in that capacity over Ector's Texas brigade, during the remainder of the 
war. Was in all of the engagements participated in by the commands of 
Hood, Johnson and Bragg. Was severely wounded at the battle of Mur- 
freesborough, being shot through the left breast, also received a builet in 
the leg at Chickamauga, and one in the neck at Nashville. A colonel's 
commission was given him, with permission to raise a regiment of super- 
numery officers, (whose commands had become depleted by the casualties 
of war) which was nearly completed when the war closed. He surren- 
dered under Gen. Taylor, at Meridiana, Mississippi, in April, 1865. By 
special permission of the officers in charge of the surrender, he was 
paroled as assistant-adjutant general of the brigade with which he served. 
He then went to Kentucky, where he remained five years and then came 
to this county, of which he has since been resident, engaged in breeding 
fine stock. In June, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Neill, 
of Lexington, Missouri. They have had two children, one now living, 
viz: Neill, a fine boy of four years of age. The deceased one was named 
Jennie; born in April, 1875, and died in July, 1880. The captain in his 
attempt to improve the stock in this vicinity, deserves the hearty co-op- 
eration of all interested. He handles short horns, and trotting horses rep- 
resenting many different breeds. 

JAMES H. CATHER, 

farmer and school teacher; P. O. Dover. Was born in West Virginia, 
Taylor county, November 20, 1849. Lived there, attending school when 
he became of the proper age, until 1866, when he came to this state, 
locating, first, in Knox county, where he attended school one year; going 
from thence to Chariton county, and entering the Brunswick seminary, 
which he also attended one year. He then went to Lexington, then to 
Dover, where he attend school for five years. After leaving school he 
engaged in teaching, which occupation he has alternated with farming 
ever since — teaching during fall and winter, and cultivating his farm during 
summer. January 27, 1875, he was married to Miss Emma E. Fulkerson, 
of this county; a native of Virginia. Their union is blessed with three 
children: Louiana, Ernest, and Amanda. Mr. Cather is living on a well 
cultivated farm of 85 acres, which, with all the property he now possesses, 
he has acquired by his own unaided exertions. He has always taught in 
this county, and during the last three years has taught the school situated 
one mile east of Dover, which fact argues well with his success as a 
teacher. During the latter part of the war he was engaged in teaming, 
between Webster and Beverly. He is an active, energetic business man; 



544 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

successful in whatever he undertakes; being so, probably, because he 
engages in no enterprise without first carefully weighing the reasons, -pro 
and con, and subjecting them to the critical analysis of his well balanced 
judgment. 

GRANVILLE K. CAMPBELL, 

faamer, P. O. Dover. The subject of this sketch is a native of Alabama; 
born at Huntsville, June 22, 1823. His parents, James and Ann Elizabeth 
Campbell, were formerly residents of Lafayette county, moving to Ala- 
bama in about 1818 or '19. In 1834 the family returned to this county, 
locating upon a farm in Lexington township, where Granville passed his 
youth in a manner common to farmer boys; attending school in winter 
and working on the farm in summer. In 1849, October 3, he married his 
first wife, Miss Louise J. Walker. By this marriage they had five boys: 
Samuel W., James H., Robert Lee, Hiram Farris, and Ion Granville, 
(deceased). Mrs. Campbell died July 9, 1865. In 1853 Mr. C. purchased 
the splendid farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 515 acres of 
land, which in its advanced state of cultivation, and comfortable and con- 
venient buildings and improvements, shows that a man of broad views 
and practical experience is at the helm. June 5, 1866, he married for his 
second wife, Mrs. Maria Johnson, nee Hockensmith. The fruit of this 
union is one son: Alexander B. Mr. Campbell took no active part in the 
late war, remaining at home during the greater part of the time, engaged 
in the cultivation of his farm. By his steady application and industrious 
efforts, he has succeeded in accumulating considerable wealth, which he 
uses in a manner calculated, according to his judgment, to produce the 
greatest good to the largest number. He has started three of his sons 
in business, having given to each a fine farm. He has also taken an 
active part in public affairs, and to him the county is indebted in a great 
measure, for its present advanced stage of prosperity. 

W. H. CARTER, 

farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Dover. The subject of this brief sketch, 
one of the influential citizens of the county, was born January 30, 1842, 
and is a native of Richmond, Virginia. His father, having made several 
trips through the west, and being pleased with the country, made prepara- 
tions for removing his family thither, but died in January, 1849, before 
accomplishing his object. His mother, however completed the prepara- 
tions and moved to this state, November 5, 1848, locating on a farm, where 
our subject passed his boyhood — attending the high school at Dover for 
several years. In 1864 he entered Bethany college, remaining there two 
years. He then spent the same length of time in the Kentucky university, 
at Lexington, Kentucky. Returning to Lafayette county he taught school 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 545 

for six or seven years, the most of the time at Dover. Since then he has 
been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was united in marriage 
to Miss Ada B. Campbell, daughter of Robert Campbell, of this county, 
Dec. 20, 1866. Four children are the fruit of their union: Jennie, Ollie, 
Kenneth, and Byron. In November, 1880, he was elected to represent the 
eastern district of this county, in the state legislature; was the democratic 
candidate and was elected by a large majority, without any effort on his 
part; showing his popularity among the voters of his district. With such 
men as Mr. Carter in the legislature, the people may rest assured that 
public affairs will be administered upon a basis of right and justice. 

WILLIAM KIRTLEY, 

farmer, P. O. Dover. The parents of the subject of this sketch were 
native Virginians, who went to Boone county, Kentucky, at an early day, 
where Wm. was born, October 28, 1812. Was raised and educated in his 
native state. In 1837 he came to Missouri on a prospecting tour, and 
being prepossessed with the country moved there in 1844, settling in 
Lafayette county, Dover township, where he purchased land and opened 
up a farm. In 1856 he built a fine, large, brick residence. August 27, 
1832, he was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Shelby, of Charlestown, Indi- 
ana, a distant relative of Gen. Jo Shelby of this county. By this union 
they have seven children, namely: Elijah B., Gustavus A., James B., 
Richard B., Charles C, (named after Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Mary- 
land, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence), Dora M., 
Montie M. In 1831 while making a trip from Cincinnati, to the south, via. 
the river, engaged in shipping stock, a causualty happened, which came 
near being serious. When near New Madrid the boat struck upon a snag 
and instantly filling, all came near being drowned. By prompt action, 
however, all were rescued. While on his return trip from Missouri, an 
opportunity was offered him to purchase a tract of land at $10 per acre, 
which is now worth $500 per acre. As he had already bought in Lafay- 
ette county, he declined, thereby making, as he expressed it, " the greatest 
mistake of his life." Mr. Kirtley is an energetic, enterprising business 
man; one who does not sit down to "cry over spilt milk," but immedi- 
ately goes to work and rectifies a mistake, as far as possible when one is 
made. 

E. BEE SMALL, 

merchant, P. O. Dover. Was born September 18, 1861, in Wood county, 
West Virginia. Was raised and educated there. His father being pro- 
prietor of a hotel in Lubeck, he was engaged in that for a time, acting in 
the capacity of clerk. He spent two years in Oxford, Dodridge county, 
clerking for a merchant of that place, named Ephraim Bee. He then 



546 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

returned home and worked on a farm for a time. In December, IS 79, he 
came to this state and count}-, stopping at first in Higginsville, working 
for different parties, finally locating at Dover, where he is now employed 
learning the tinner's trade. His father is a native of California, going to 
Virginia when a young man. Mr. Small is an industrious, energetic 
young man, of strict integrity, possessing the entire confidence of his 
employers and acquaintances. 

GEORGE W. GARR, 

farmer, P. O. Dover. Is a native of Virginia, Madison, county, born 
May 4, 1S27. Was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. 
May 17, 1850, he came to Missouri, locating in Lafayette county, and 
engaging at carpentering, which trade he had learned before leaving Vir- 
ginia, and which he followed until the breaking out of the war. In July, 
1862, he enlisted in Col. Gordon's regiment, company B, under General 
Shelbv. Entered as private and was engaged in the battles of Carthage, 
Little Rock, Prairie Grove, Helena, where he was wounded in the shoul- 
der and arm, but not seriously. Was also wounded at Clarendon bv a 
ball passing through the arm, and breaking one of the bones in the wrists 
At Westport he was struck by a ball which he now has in his possession. 
His horse was killed in same battle, he making a very narrow escape. 
At the close of the war he went to Mexico with Shelbv and has never 
been regularlv discharged. July 4, 1S65, he left Mexico for home, arriv- 
ing there the last of the month. In August, 1865, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary A. Slusher, daughter of Thomas Slusher. Their 
union is blessed with three children, viz: Alice M., Alberta, Wm. Willis. 
Mr. Garr built one of the first houses on the Petitesaw Plains. Is now 
engaged in the cultivation of one of the finest farms in the state, consist- 
ing of 600 acres. 

LEWIS W. WERNWAY, 

stock and grain dealer, P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Nicholas County, 
Ky., July 20, 1S36. Is the oldest son of Thomas D. The family moved 
from Kentucky in 1S44, and settled in Ray County, near Richmond, upon 
a farm, where Lewis grew to manhood. He then engaged as book- 
keeper for the firm of Gratz & Shelby, with whom he remained until 1857, 
when he left them and engaged as clerk on one of the large steamers, 
then plying on the Missouri River from St. Louis to St. Joseph, in which 
capacity he remained until the breaking out of the war. He then entered 
the confederate service as 2d Lieutenant in Col. Grave's Regiment. 
Fought in all of the engagements in which his command was engaged up 
to 1S63, when-he was discharged at Tupelo, Miss. Was married to Miss 
LUC3- A. Thompson, of Louisville, Ky., in May, 1S66. By this marriage 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 547 

they have three children, viz.: William, born the 11th of March, 1867; 
Lewis, born July 11, 1869; John, born July 13, 1871. Since the war, mat- 
ters being somewhat unsettled, he has been engaged in buying and ship- 
ping stock and grain, while his family remain upon his farm, which is situ- 
ated in Dover township, about half way between Dover and Lexington. 

JAMES L.WARREN, 

farmer, P. O. Higginsville. Son of John Warren; was born in this state 
and county, Dover Township, October 1, 1S39. His grandfather, Martin 
Warren, a pioneer of three states, Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, was 
in the revolutionary war under Washington, and is mentioned in Red- 
path's history of the United States. The town of Warrensburg is named 
for him. James, the subject of this sketch, was, reared in this county, his 
principal occupation being farming. Took no part in the civil war. Taught 
school a part of the time, and in 1S64 went to Nebraska for a short time. 
A brother, belonging to Col. Elliott's Regiment, was captured and died in 
prison. At the close of the war he located upon the farm, where he now 
resides, engaged in its cultivation. Jul) 7 18, 1862, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Anna Watson. They are parents of eight children, four 
boys and four girls, all living. Mr. Warren and wife are members, in 
good standing, of the Christian church. A native of this county, Mr. 
Warren points with pride to the evidences of its progress, and feels the 
satisfaction of having done his share towards the accomplishment of its 
present stage of prosperity. 

JOSEPH H.PAGE, 

farmer, P. O. Page City. Born in Warren County, Ky., April 16, 1813. 
Came with his father and family to Lafayette County in 1827. They 
traveled the whole distance in wagons, which contained all their worldly 
possessions. Lived in the wagons until they succeeded in erecting some 
cabins sufficient for their protection, which were located within a few rods 
of his present residence. Here he lived the life of a pioneer in the full 
sense of the word. In 1830 he went to Fort Gibson, in Cherokee Nation, 
where he worked eleven months, clothing himself, and saving the sum of 
$60 out of his wages, which he sent to his father. In 1835 he again went 
to the Cherokee Nation, and returned at the end of six months after 
experiencing many privations, with $150. In 1836, January 7, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Couts, a native of Kentucky, born 
September 5, 1819, and who is still enjoying gook health; able to do her 
own work. When first married they commenced housekeeping in a man- 
ner consistent with their means, thereby escaping the trials incident to the 
lives of young married couples, who desire to make a showing which 
their income will not warrant. They lived in a little cabin with simple 



548 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

furniture, Mr. Page making his own table out of a plank, caught in a 
drift, in Little Tebo. Mrs. Page's dowry consisted of a cow, a calf, and 
a bedstead. Comfortably situated as they are now, surrounded by all of 
the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, the aged couple may review 
their past experiences with complacency, and point with pride to their 
luxurious home, acquired by their own unaided efforts and unremitting 
economy. They are parents of fifteen children, twelve of whom are now 
living. Two died in infancy, and the other at the age of 22. All live in 
this state. Mr. and Mrs. Page are members of the Reformed church. 
Mr, P. is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Lexington Lodge. The farm 
upon which Mr. P. resides is a fine one, with all the necessary improve- 
ments in the way of buildings, machinery, orchards, etc. One apple tree 
in his orchard measures nine feet in circumference. Probably Mr. Page 
has done more than any other one man, towards developing the resources 
of this county. Active and energetic, he is always on the alert and ready 
to put his shoulder to the wheel in the prosecution of any enterprise which 
meets with the approbation of his well matured judgment. 

GEGRGE W. CORDER. 

Mr. Corder is a native of Rappahannock county, Va.,. born March 5, 
1828. His parents moved to Lafayette county in the spring of 1839. Mr. 
C. has since been a resident of this county, obtaining his education princi- 
pally in Lexington, Mo. Has always lived upon and operated the farm 
which his father entered in 1839. In 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri 
State Guards, under Shelby. He served six months in the M. S. G. and 
then enlisted in the regular service, joining company C, Col. Gordon's 
regiment. Was engaged at the battles of Lexington, Pea Ridge, and 
quite a number of others of less note. Was honorably discharged at 
Shreveport, in June, 1865. He went through the service without receiv- 
ing a scratch, although having several bullet holes in his coat, and also 
having several horses shot under him. In 1853, he married Miss Eliza- 
beth Wall, of Henry county, Mo. Six children were born to them, as fol- 
lows: Wm. M., Nathan, Rovella A., Robertie Lee, Bettie and George. 
In 1878, Mr. Corder platted and laid out the town of Corder, which the 
railroad company named in his honor. Is a member of the A. F. and A. 
M., Higginsville Lodge, No. 364; also a member of the P. of H., Corder 
Lodge. Is also a memher of the M. E. church, south, of Dover. Post- 
office, Corder. 

GEORGE NEITHERCUT. 

Mr. N. is a native of Virginia, and was born in Lee county, October 
22, 1829. His parents and family moved to Castor county, Ky., about 
the year 1841, where he was educated. After reaching his majority, he 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 549 

engaged in farming, which he followed until the spring of 1858, when he 
traveled towards the setting sun and settled for a time in Jasper county, 
Mo., engaged in farming and carpentering, having learned the trade while 
in Kentucky. In 1863, he went to Nebraska City, where he was engaged 
in wagon making for two years. He then came to Saline county, Mo., 
stopping at Elmwood, where he followed same business until 1868, when 
he came to Lafayette county and purchased a farm of 125 acres, in Mid- 
dleton township, which he still owns. He operated this farm until 1879, 
when he removed to Corder and engaged in a general merchandise busi- 
ness, which he has followed since. He carries a good stock and has a 
fine trade. Was first married in 1850, to Miss Sarah Cornutte, of Law r - 
rence county, Ky. Eight children were born to them, viz: Rebecca, 
Jordon, Martha, William, Alice, Bettie, George and Marvin. Jordon is 
living in Nebraska, engaged in the cattle business. Mr. N. is a worthy 
member of the A. F. & A. M., Brownsville Lodge, No. 217. Is also a 
member of the M. E. church, south, of Dover. His wife died in Febru- 
ary, 1872, and Nov. 1, 1877, he married Miss Mary A. Feehrer, of Clarke 
county, Va. This union is blessed with one child. 

CHARLES KNIPMEYER. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Missouri, and was born in War- 
ren county, April 8, 1860. Was educated at the Central Wesleyan Col- 
lege, at Warrenton. In 1874, he went to Higginsville, and there engaged 
in the mercantile business with his brother. Was also engaged with M. 
E. Keller, at Lexington, in the dry goods and clothing business for a time, 
and afterwards again at Higginsville. He next went to St. Louis and 
engaged as traveling saleman, for the wholesale grocery firm of S. B. 
Sale & Co., with whom he remained for one year. He then purchased 
his brother's interest in a store at Corder, since which time he has been 
engaged in the mercantile trade at that place. Has a large and well 
assorted stock and an excellent trade. December 26, 1880, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Rosie M. Grow, of Higginsville, Mo. 

H. F. KLEINSCHMIDT. 

Mr. K. is a native of Missouri, born in St. Louis, Dec. 3, 1856. Was 
educated in the public schools of St. Louis, attending both German and 
English departments. After leaving school, he was engaged in a hat and 
cap store, with H. Knoble, of St. Louis, for one year. He then learned 
the tinner's trade, which he followed for nine or ten years. In August, 
1873, he engaged with August Hoevel, a stove and tinware dealer, of St. 
Louis. In 1878, Mr. H. sold out to L. and F. Hoevel, with whom Mr. 
K. remained six months, and then went to Higginsville, where he and his 
cousin, H. Kleinschmidt, opened a stove and tinware store. He remained 



550 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

there about three months, and then returned to St. Louis and engaged 
with the St. Louis Stamping Company. In Nov. 1880, he opened a store 
at Corder, with a fine stock of stoves and hardware. At that time the 
firm was styled H. Kleinschmidt & Co., but in 1881, the partnership was 
dissolved and Mr. K. is now sole owner. October 6, 1880, he married 
Miss Louise Rosengarn, of St. Louis. His parents are natives of Prus- 
sia, and came to America in about 1850, coming directly to St. Louis, 
where they are still living. His father is a salesman with R. Sellew & Co. 

LEWIS CARTHRAE, M. D. 

Dr. C. is a native of Missouri; born in Saline county Jan. 11, 1845. He 
was educated at the Independence High School and also spent one year 
at a commercial school in St. Louis, taking mathematics and language in 
addition to the regular course. After leaving school he was engaged 
with Geo. W. Wilson & Co., a hardware firm of St. Louis, and also as 
book-keeper for the firm of Page & Co. At the same time, after business 
hours, he read medicine with Dr. J. M. Scott, and at times attended lec- 
tures. He afterwards entered the Missouri Medical college of St. Louis, 
from which he graduated in 1872. During the year previous to his 
graduation, however, he had been engaged in practicing, and operating a 
drug store at Aullville, this county. After graduating he sold out at 
Aullville and at once located in the neighborhood of where Corder now 
stands, there being no town there at the time. In the spring of 1879 he 
engaged in the drug business at Corder, the firm being styled Carthrae & 
Corder. In August, 1862, Dr. Carthrae enlisted in Col. Gordon's Regi- 
ment, Company I, under Gen. Shelby. Participated in the battles of Pea 
Ridge, Helena, Springfield, Hartsville and all others in which his company 
was engaged. Was taken prisoner near Little Rock, in November 1864, 
and was held until the close of the war, being discharged in the latter part 
of May, 1865. Nov. 16th, 1871, he married Miss Ella. Martin, of St. 
Louis, and a native of Virginia. Three children were born to them, viz.: 
Lewis, Walter and Edna, twins. His parents were formerly from Vir- 
ginia, and came to Saline county, Mo., in about 1830, locating near Miami. 
Dr. C. is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Aullville Lodge, No. 464- 
Was one of the charter members and was W. M. for seven years. Was 
formerly a member of George Washington Lodge No. 9, of St. Louis. 
The Dr. stands among the first in his profession and has a large and 
lucrative practice. 

JOHN W. DEAN. 

Mr. Dean is a native of Virginia; born in Clarke county, Oct. 10, 1830. 
His parents moved to Warren county, Va., when he was quite young, 
where he was reared and educated. Was first married in 1851 to Miss 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 551 

Sarah M. Skinner, of Loudon county, Va. Their union was blessed with 
three children, living, viz.: Howard, Sallie and Lizzie M. In 1857 he 
came to Missouri, stopping at Jefferson City, where he was engaged as 
a building contractor, having followed same occupation before leaving 
Virginia. He contracted to build the new addition to the asylum at Ful- 
ton, Mo., which was finished in 1859. In the fall of the same year he 
came to Lafayette county, Mo., and purchased a farm, where he was 
engaged in farming and stock raising until 1878, when he went to Corder 
and built the hotel known as the Corder House, which he is operating in 
connection with his other business. Is associated with L. W. Wernway 
in the grain business, which firm has handled all of the grain shipped from 
Corder, since engaging in the business having shipped during the last 12 
months about 75,000 bushels. His wife dying, he was married again in 
1S68 to Miss Mary J. Colborn, of Jackson county, Mo. Bv this union 
they have three children, viz.: John W., Beulah and Gertrude. Mrs. 
Dean has occupied the position of teacher in the Corder schools for the 
past four or five years, and is re-engaged for the coming year. She is a 
graduate from the school at Independence, under Wra. H. Lewis, now a 
professor in one of the colleges of Missouri. Mrs. D. is a highly culti- 
vated lad}f, and a faithful wife and mother. 

AUGUSTUS W. WILLIS. 

Mr. Willis is a native of Carroll county, Mo.; born Aug. 2, 1847. His 
parents moved to Lafayette county in 1854, where he was educated. With 
the exception of five years spent in farming in Ray county, Mr. W. has been 
a continuous resident of this county since his advent. He is engaged in the 
cultivation of a fine farm of 280 acres, paying considerable attention to the 
raising of stock. In December, 1869, he was married to Miss Susan V. 
Eppes, of South Carolina. They have five children, named as follows: 
Edward S., John W., Claude R., Bessie and Gussie. His father was a 
native of Maryland, and came to Missouri in 1840. He was familiarly 
known as " Col." Willis, the title, however, being founded on fiction instead 
of fact. He died at the advanced age of 74 years, the sad event occurring 
July 5th, 1881, at Eureka Springs, whither he had gone for the benefit of 
his health. His remains were brought home and interred at Waverly. 
Mrs. W. is still living. Mr. Willis' postoffice is Corder. 

J. R. AVITT. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Kentucky; born in Brecken- 
ridge county. May 10, 1826. Was educated at Mt. Morieno College. 
Alter completing his education, he was engaged, for a time, in selling 
goods, and afterwards at farming and trading on the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers. In November, 1S47, he married Miss Frances N. Van Meter, a 



552 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

native of Virginia. They became parents of six children, as follows: 
Isaac W., Howell, Laura J. Malcolm, Missouri, and George H. In 1853, 
he came to Missouri, and located in Lafayette county, where he has since 
resided, with the exception of a short time spent in Illinois, during the 
war. After the surrender, he went to Kentucky, and in the fall of 1865, 
he returned to his farm in this county, to find his buildings and improve- 
ments utterly destroyed, and a herculean task before him, to get things in 
shape again. A glance over his farm at the present time, however, would 
leave no impression that such was ever the condition of things, as every- 
thing bears the impress of a pains-taking hand. In 1879, he built a hand- 
some residence, which is a model of comfort and convenience. He and 
his wife are members of the Baptist Church. 

WILLIAM WALKER. 

Mr. Walker was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, June 25, 1857, 
upon the farm where he now resides. Was educated at the University of 
Missouri, at Columbia. Has always been engaged in farming, and deal- 
ing in stock. His father is also a native of Lafayette county; born in 
about 1S27. His grandmother, who is still living, is a native of Kentucky, 
born January l;>, 1789. She is one of the oldest persons, if not the oldest, 
living in the county, and has lived for fifty-three years in the house where 
she now resides. Her husband and herself were among the first settlers 
of this county. Mr. Walker owns a splendid farm of 450 acres, and is 
one of the substantial, rising young men of the county. 

JAMES M. SLUSHER. 

The parents of the subject of this sketch came to Missouri in 1828, 
where his mother is still living, at the advanced age of sixty-three, his 
father having been dead several years. James M. was born in Lafayette 
county, November 29, 1849. Was educated in this county, but, in conse- 
quence of the war, was denied the privilege of completing his studies. 
Has always followed farming for an occupation, although he is a good 
carpenter, having learned the trade from his father. November 18, 1879, 
he married Miss Birdie B. Payne, of Orange county, Virginia. Their 
union is blessed with one child, named Lawrence Payne, born November 
28, 1880, and died June 6, 1881. In October, 1880, Mr. Slusher formed a 
partnership with Mr. Kensler, in the grocery business, at Higginsville. 
Mr. K. attending to the store, and Mr. S. remaining on his farm. He is 
a member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M., Dover Lodge, No. 122. 
Mr. Slusher is a substantial farmer, and an influential citizen. P. O., 
Dover. 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 553 

REV. J. C. SHACKELFORD. 

The subject of this sketch, one of the leading clergymen of the county, 
is a native of Missouri, born in Saline county, August 4, 1829. Was 
educated at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1854. After grad- 
uating, he entered the ministry, and has since been consecutively in charge 
of churches in the following various counties, remaining, with one excep- 
tion, one year in each, viz: Jackson, Saline, St. Louis, Jackson, Lafay- 
ette (two years), Johnson, and St. Louis, where his health failed him, and 
he was obliged to abandon his calling for a time. Returning to Lafayette 
county, he purchased a farm of 160 acres, upon which he has built a fine 
residence, and upon which he now lives. In November, 1S59, he married 
Miss Martha Neale, of Wood county, West Virginia. They have had 
four children, two now living, viz: Emma and Mary. The deceased 
were named Samuel and John Wesley. Mr. Shackelford also preaches 
at Waverly, Lafayette county, having in charge a congregation number- 
ing 120. His father came to Missouri in 1820, and was one of the first 
settlers of Saline county. Post-office, Corder. 

L. E. WHITE. 

Mr. W. is a native of Virginia; born in or near Richmond, May 19, 
1838. His parents came to Missouri in 1842, settling in Lafayette county, 
two miles north of the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now 
resides, where they lived for one year, and then removed to his present 
residence. In 1858 or 1859, his father died, leaving him in possession of 
the farm. Was educated in the common schools of the county. In 
August, 1862, he enlisted in company B, of Col. Gordon's regiment, under 
Gen. Shelby, with which command he participated in the following 
battles: Prairie Grove, Springfield, Hartsville, and other minor engage- 
ments, too numerous to mention. His brother being taken sick, he 
remained with him, until his death, which occurred at Batesville, Arkan- 
sas. In March, 1863, he received a furlough for six weeks, but at the 
expiration of that time, owing to a change of circumstances, did not return 
to his command. He made two attempts, at different times, to rejoin 
his regiment, but failed. He and his mother went to Illinois, where they 
remained until 1866, when they returned to their home, where his mother 
died, in June of tne same year. Mr. White has never ventured upon the 
uncertain sea of matrimony, chosing rather to "bear the ills he has than to 
fly to those he knows not of." His sister has been keeping house for 
him, until recently. She is now living in Kansas City. His post-office is 
Corder. 






554 HISTORY OF LAFAYKTTE COUNTY. 

DR. WILLTAM C. WEBB. 

The doctor is a native of Virginia, born on 5th of February, 1825. 
His parents came to Missouri and settled in Lafayette county, in the 
neighborhood of Dover, in 1836. His literary education was obtained at 
Kemper college, near St. Louis. He attended one course of lectures at 
Lexington, Kentucky, and graduated from the medical department of the 
University of Pennsylvania, in 1849. After graduating he engaged in the 
practice of medicine at Dover, where he remained for five or six years, 
having, in the meantime, acquired a large and lucrative practice. Becom- 
ing somewhat disabled, in 1856, he purchased the farm upon which he 
now resides, consisting of 850 acres, of, at that time, raw prairie. It is 
now one of the finest farms in Lafayette county, and a model of neatness 
and thrift. He has a fine orchard of about 700 trees, of which 450 are 
apple trees. Has a beautiful residence. In August, 1862, he enlisted 
under Gen. Shelby, as surgeon, and afterwards served in same capacity 
with Col. Shank's regiment, and also Collins' battery. Upon the solicita- 
tion of Gen. Shelby (as the doctor thinks, he having treated him while 
wounded at Helena), he was given the position of surgeon of Jackman's 
brigade. Was at the battles of Cape Girardeau, Helena, Little Rock and 
with Price on his raid through Missouri, in 1864. Was discharged at 
Shreveport, Louisiana, in June, of 1865, and arrived at home shortly after, 
since which time he has been engaged in practicing his profession and 
attending to his farm. In October, 1853, was married to Miss Martha H. 
Jones, of Chariton county, and a native of Amherst county, Virginia. 
Six children were born to them, as follows: Walter Leslie, now civil 
engineer on the coast of Gulf of Mexico; James Edward, now practicing 
medicine in Corder, Missouri; Mary S., Robert M., Helen C. and Jane 
W. The doctor is a member of A. F. & A. M., Dover Lodge, No. 122; 
and also of P. of H, Lafayette Grange, No. 305. Postoffice, Dover. 

WILLIAM G. NEALE. 

Mr. Neale is a native of Virginia; born in Wood county, February 27, 
1846. In 1856 his parents moved to Lafayette county, and settled on the 
farm where Wm. G. now resides. It consists of 450 acres of excellent 
land, only partially improved, however, at that time. Mr. N. obtained his 
education in the public schools of this county, and at St. Louis and Glas- 
gow. In 1870, February 16, he maried Miss Sallie Morehead of Glas- 
gow, Howard county, Missouri. By this union they have three children, 
viz.: Charley, Flora and an infant not yet named. His mother is still 
living at the advanced age of 84, having remarkablv good health for a 
person of that age. Mr. Neale is a member of P. of H., Lafayette 
Grange, No. 305, of which he is also secretary. He is an excellent busi- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 555 

ness man, and socially is held in esteem by his fellow citizens. Postoffice, 
Page City. 

E. A. HAWKS, 

P. O. Corder, Missouri. Is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Stark 
county, January 12, 1834. While quite young his parents moved to Ohio, 
where he was raised and educated. In 1848 the whole family moved to 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There he learned his trade, that of a printer, in 
the Madison "Journal. He then went to St. Louis, where he worked for 
the Republican, then for the Democrat. In 1872 he began editing the 
Manifest Reporter, published in the interests of the mercantile class, 
which he continued to publish until 1880, when he sold out and came to 
this county, settled in Corder and engaged in the mercantile business, 
which he has since followed. In 1857, he was married to Miss Mary F. 
•Martin, of Richmond, Virginia, by whom he has six children: Thomas 
S., Belle, Matie F., Henrietta, Leonard and Edward A. His father was 
a member of the A. F. & A. M. — one of the highest members in Wiscon- 
sin and was buried by the order. 

RICHARD BARLY, 

P.lO. Corder, Mo. Was bocn in Frederick county, Virginia, in Novem- 
ber, 1822, where he was raised and educated. He followed farming until 
1849, when he went to California, going over the plains, from St. Joe, 
with a company of eight}Mmen. He remained in California for five years, 
and while there was engaged as supervisor of a canal. In 1854 he 
returned to Virginia via. the Isthmus, and was twenty-one days from 
San Francisco to New York. In Virginia he engaged in farming again* 
until 1860, when he came to this county, settled where he now resides and 
is engaged in farming and stock raising. For the last fourteen years he 
has served as justice of the peace for Dover township. He was first mar- 
ried in 1857 to MissAnnie E. Nelson, of Frederick county, Virginia, by 
whom he had two children: Lewis and Hunter. In the fall of 1860, his 
wife died, and in 1863 he married Miss Mary B. Cooper. He is a worthy 
member of A. F. & A. M, Dover Lodge, having joined in Virginia. He 
is also a member of Grange, No. 305 — a charter member. 

REV. T. W. TATE, 

Pastor of Baptist church at Dover, Dover P. O. The subject of this 
sketch is a native of Missouri, and was born in Andrew county, Feb. 24, 
1851. His father and family moved to Clay county in 1864, where he now 
resides. He was educated at the William Jewell college, at Liberty, Mo. 
His father being in somewhat straitened circumstances, he was obliged to 
educate himself, in a measure, which he did by teaching and attending 



556 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

college alternately. During the summer of '74, his health failing him in 
conseauence of too close application to his studies, he took a tour on the 
plains, returning to Clay county in the fall. In the winter of '74-75 he 
was principal of the schools at Barry, on the line between Clay and Platte 
counties. During the summer of '75 he remained at home, waiting on the 
sick, several of the family being taken down with the scarlet fever, two 
of whom died. His mother had a severe attack, but finally recovered, 
after suffering for several months. In the winter of '75-'76 he took charge 
as principal of the schools at Westport, Jackson count}-. In the fall of 
'76 he re-entered college as a student, and also as tutor in the preparatory 
department. He graduated in the department of mathematics in June, 
1877. May 16, 1878, he was married to Miss Anna Rouse, of Liberty, 
Mo., daughter of Ezekiel Rouse, a native of Kentucky. From this time 
up to July, 1880, Mr. Tate was engaged in teaching in various parts of 
the state, being at one time principal of a private Baptist school at Sedg- 
wicksville, Ballinger county. In July, 1880, he came to Dover, where 
he has since resided, having in charge the Baptist church at that 
place. Since January, 1881, he has devoted half of his time to the Bap- 
tist church at Brownsville. Mr. T.'s father is a native of east Tennessee, 
and his mother of Kentucky. Both are now living near Liberty, Clay 
county. His wife is a graduate of the Liberty female seminary, gradu- 
ating in 1867. Since that time she has devoted her time principally to 
teaching and literary pursuits. Both were converted, baptized and joined 
to the Baptist church in the winter of '66-67, at Liberty, Mo. It is rather 
a remarkable fact that they did not know each other at the time, and did 
not meet again until several years afterward, when upon comparing notes 
the above fact was ascertained. Rev. Mr. Tate was licensed to preach 
by the Liberty church, March 16, 1879. Was ordained by the Bap- 
tist church at Sedgwickville, on the first Sunday in August, 1879. His 
first sermon was preached at this latter place. He is now the honored 
and worthy pastor of the Baptist church at Dover, and held in high 
esteem by his congregation and the community in general. 

FRANK G. HENRY, 

Physician and druggist, Dover. Was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Aug. 4, 
1830. Grew to manhood and was educated primarily in Mason county, 
Ky., whither his father and family had moved while he was quite young. 
His father died in Washington, I). C, having received an appointment in 
the postoffice department. Frank G. studied medicine with his brother, 
attended school at Lancaster, and finally entered the medical college at 
Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1851. He then returned to Jeffer- 
son county, Miss., (where he was when he entered college) and practised 
medicine there for a period of seven years, at the end of which time he 




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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 557 

came to this state, locating in Carroll county, where he practised four 
years. The doctor then came to this county, and labored a short time in 
Berlin, after which he located in Dover, where he has since resided, 
engaged in the practice of his profession and in the drug business. He 
is also the proprietor of the hotel at the same place. In July of '54 he 
was united in marriage to Miss Jane T. Blanchard, of Mason county, Ky., 
by whom he has two children — Mary M. and William Lake. Dr. Henry 
has been identified with the interests of the county for nearly a quarter of 
a century, during which time he has watched the progress and develop- 
ment of its resources with much pleasure, contributing largely toward the 
same. 

REV. S. B. WHITING, 

Baptist minister, P. O. Dover. Is a native of Massachusetts, born in Bos- 
ton January 26, 1836. His father moved to Missouri in 1837, settling in 
Warsaw, Benton county. Here S. B. obtained his education and grew to 
manhood. In 1855 he came to Dover, this county, and engaged in the 
mercantile business, which he followed for six years. Afterwards he 
studied medicine with Dr. Baer for one year. In 1861 he was married to 
Miss Virginia Webb, of this county, by whom he has seven children, as 
follows: Ella C, Virginia B., Mary E., Samuel B., Jr., Philip G., Lilly 
M., and Leverett. In the same year of his marriage he enlisted in the 
confederate service, Company C, Col. Grave's regiment, under Gen. 
Price. He entered as a private, but for meritorious conduct, was pro- 
moted to the command of a compan}'. He participated in the battles of 
Carthage, Wilson Creek, Drywood, Lexington, Pea Ridge, and other 
minor engagements, too numerous to mention. In 1862 he was taken 
prisoner on the Osage river, near Johnstown and was held for nearly a 
vear at Leavenworth. Cap't. Whiting was honorably discharged in the 
spring of 1863. After the war he was engaged in farming until 1870, 
when he entered the ministry, and since which time he has devoted his 
attention exclusively to the preaching of the gospel. He was licensed in 
1870, and ordained in 1871 at Dover. At the present time he has in 
charge the churches of Waverly, Higginsville, and Greentown, this 
county. His father was at one time a very wealthy man, being a banker 
in Boston, but was broken up by the panic of '36. Mr. Whiting is one 
of Lafayette's substantial and most influential citizens, honored as a man 
and revered as a pastor by all who know him. 

R. W. COX, 

capitalist, P. O. Dover. The subject of this sketch is a native of Mis- 
souri; born in this county May 29, 1836. He first saw the light of day 
w 



558 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

within a few hundred yards ot where he now resides. His father was 
emphatically a pioneer, being the first settler in that neighborhood, and 
having been obliged to hew his way in with an axe. R. W. was partially 
educated in the schools at Dover, also attending, for one term, the unni- 
versity at Columbia. Left this county in the spring of 1853, going to Cali- 
fornia; after an absence of two and one-half years he returned and entered 
Jones' commercial college at St. Louis, from which he graduated with dis- 
tinction, in 1859. After graduating he engaged in the mercantile trade, 
which he followed for several years at Dover. During the progress of 
war he spent the greater part of his time in California. Having returned, 
he ao-ain entered the mercantile arena, which he occupied until 1868, when 
he retired from business with a competency, the result of good manage- 
ment and steady application to business. January 19, 1875, Mr. Cox had 
the misfortune to be afflicted with a paralytic stroke which disabled him 
for a time, and from which he has never completely recovered, but is 
greatly improved. May 13, 1875, he was married to Miss Lucy Fleming, 
of this county. They have had three children, two of whom are now liv- 
ing: Ozite and Edgar. Mr. Cox has placed himself under the medical 
treatment of Dr. Price, of Buffalo, who entertains warm hopes of his ulti- 
mate recovery. He is the wealthiest man in this section; an honorable 
man and an influential citizen; a man who is liberal with his wealth in any 
rational scheme for the advancement of the public interest and to whom 
all look for advice and counsel. 

REV. W. B. McFARLAND, 

pastor of M. E. church, south. P. O. Dover. Was born in Penn., near 
Pittsburg, February 9, 1820. Was reared and educated in his native 
state, graduating from Alleghany College, at Meadville, in 1841. He at 
once entered upon the high and honorable calling of an expositor of the 
scriptures, for which he is so eminently fitted, both by temperament and 
education. During an uninterrupted term of 35 years, in which he has 
been engaged in the ministry, he has been pastor of the following various 
churches: Fairmount, Marion county, one year; Harrison county Va., 
two years; Monroe county, Ohio, one year: Elizabethtown, Marshall 
county Va.; Caball county Va.; Charleston Va.; Point Pleasant and Buf- 
falo, in Mason county; Charleston again, when he was transferred to the St. 
Louis conference: Independence, two years, Westport, Jackson 
county, Lexington four years, where he was the only minister 
allowed to preach during the winter of '62. Brownsville, Saline 
county, two years; Miami, two years; Independence again two years; 
Brownsville again two years, and Dover, where he now resides as pastor 
of the M. E. church south, of that place. He also preaches at Higgins- 
ville, Corder and Three Groves. While in Caball county, he was appointed 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 559 

principal of Marshall Academy, and afterwards acted as agent of Marshall 
College, in same county, superintending its erection. June 1, 1848, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Kayne, of Marshall county, Va., 
by whom he has two children, Florence V. and Lucy. His wife dying, 
he was married the second time, January 1857, to Miss Alvira Early, of 
Kanawha county, Va., a sister of Gen. Early. By this marriage he has 
four children, all living: Robert E., Hattie, William and Samuel. Mr. 
McFarland owns one of the finest libraries in the country. He is 
enjoying excellent health, notwithstanding his arduous duties and close 
application to the same. Has traveled quite extensively through the east, 
and is shortly intending to take a brief, much needed vacation, and visit 
the western coast. He is very popular with his people, preaching in 
practice as well as by precept. 

J. C. WOODS, 

farmer and stockraiser. P. O. Corder. The subject of the following 
sketch is a native of this state and county; born in 1841, October 10. 
Was raised on a farm and educated in the county of his birth. His father 
was one of the pioneer settlers of this county, coming here some 50 years 
ago. At the opening of the civil war,, he enlisted in the confederate ser- 
vice under Gen. Shelby. April 1868, he was married to Mary E. Slusher, 
a daughter of Henry Slusher, of this county. By this union he has six 
children: Olla, Francis C, John, Forrest, Mary E. and Martha. Mr. 
Woods has traveled quite extensively during his lifetime, and is now 
located on a fine farm of 120 acres; has a fine residence, convenient barn 
and outhouses, and all the appurtenances necessary to a well regulated 
farm. He has a splendid young orchard of 100 trees. He is a member 
of the A. F. and A. M. Dover lodge, No. 122. Has been W. M. 
of said lodge for two years. Is also a member of the P. of H. Lafayette 
Grange, No. 305. Is an active and worthy member of the Baptist church 
at Dover. 

REV. W. T. EASTWOOD, 

local pastor of M. E. Church south, and merchant, P. O. Dover; a native 
of this state and county, born October 12th, 1841; was educated at the 
Masonic college at Lexington. After completing the prescribed course 
at college, he engaged as clerk in a grocery store at Lexington for a 
while, and afterwards in a hardware store. In September, of 1861, he 
enlisted as private in the confederate army, company A, Col. Bledsoe's 
regiment, under Gen. Raines; was engaged in the following battles: Pea 
Ridge, Cane Creek and other minor engagements; was mustered out 
during the summer of 1862. Returning home he engaged in a mercantile 
business at Dover. In 1869 he was married to Miss Sarah Ustick, a 



560 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

native of this county. They have three children: Gertrude, Susan and 
Elizabeth. Mrs. Eastwood is a graduate of the Baptist college, at Lex- 
ington, Mo., in charge of Dr. E. S. Dulin, at that time. Rev. Mr. E. 
preaches at Three Groves, Higginsville and Corder; expects to join the 
S. E. Mo. Conference this fall and go into active service as a preacher of 
the gospel. His parents were natives of Virginia, and came to this county 
at an early day; owns considerable property in Dover and has a hardware 
and grocery store at same place. Is a man of influence, and a hearty 
coadjutor in any enterprise of public interest. 

JOHN P. HICKMAN, 

merchant, P. O. Dover; born in Saline county, Mo., April 3, 1850. His 
parents went to Jefferson City when he was quite young, and from there 
moved to Lexington, this county, wnere they lived until 1877, at which 
time they went to Dover, this county; was educated at Lexington; fol- 
lowed the business of tanning and farming during the early part of his 
life,' afterwards engaging in the mercantile business which he is still fol- 
lowing in Dover. August, 1877, he was married to Mattie B. Phleger, 
daughter of Mr. Allen Phleger, of Lafayette county. By this union he 
had two children, one of whom is now living, Clara Pauline. His father 
is a native of North Carolina, and is now living in Corder engaged in the 
hotel business; he was formerly at Lexington conducting a grocery busi- 
ness. Mr. H. spent the summer of '75 in Colorado, prospecting; is a 
member in good standing of I. O. O. F. Orion Lodge, 45; also a member 
of K. of P. of Lexington, and also of I. O. G. T. of Dover, and a member 
of the Baptist church of Dover; is superintendent of the Sunday-school. 

ELIAS MIERS, 

plasterer and farmer, P. O. Dover; was born in Frederick county, Va., 
October 29th, 1829; reared and educated in his native state. In his youth 
he learned the trade of plastering, which he followed for some time before 
leaving Virginia. In the spring of '57 he came to Missouri, settling in 
this county, where he has followed his profession in connection with his 
farming. In October, 1864, he enlisted in the confederate service, com- 
pany B, Col. Gordon's cavalry, under Gen. Shelby. He took part in the 
battles of Independence, Westport, Carthage and other engagements in 
which his command participated; was honorably discharged on the 13th of 
June, 1865. In 1860, February 9th, he was married to Miss Sally Love- 
lady, of this county, and whose parents were among the first settlers in 
Lafayette county, and also the first cduple married in the county. Mrs. 
Lovelady gave birth to the first pair of twins born in the county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Miers have three children living: Mary E., Berty V. and Emma 
L. Mr. M. owns a splendid farm of 124 acres. Mrs. Lovelady, the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 561 

mother-in-law of Mr. M. is living with him ; she is the daughter of Solo- 
mon Cox, who was one of the first settlers in the county, if not the first. 
She is now 88 years of age, in excellent health for a person of her age; 
rides horseback. Mrs. L. can tell manv an interesting anecdote of "pio- 
neer life" in this county. 

ALLEN PHLEGER, 

P. O. Dover; of the firm of Hickman & Co., merchants and stock dealers, 
is a native of Missouri, born in this county, July 10, 1829. Was raised 
and educated in his native county. His father owning a large farm, he kept 
the young man out of mischief by training him in agricultural pursuits. 
At the age of 21 he engaged in operating a saw-mill, which business he 
followed at times for twenty years. Afterward was engaged in farming 
and stock raising. In December, 1877, he became identified with the firm 
of J. P. Hickman & Co., merchants. In 1856 he was united in marriage 
to Miss M. Fox, of this county. They have one child: Mattie B., wife 
of J. P. Hickman. Mr. P's parents were natives of Virginia, and came to 
this county in 1828, settling on Tabo creek, two miles west of the present 
site of Dover. They belong to that class who endured trials and hard- 
ships, in the early settlement of this county, of which the present genera- 
tion, in their comfortable homes, know very little of. " All honor to the 
hardy pioneers." His wife's parents came from Tennessee to Missouri in 
1817 and in the spring of 1818, came to this county, therefore being one of 
the first families here. Mr. Fox died at the ripe age of 76, having lived 
beyond the full time allotted to man. He came herein the same year that 
Solomon Cox did, 1818. 

JEREMIAH C. BUTLER, 

carriage maker, P. O. Dover. The subject of this sketch is a native of 
Jefferson county, Virginia, born February 25, 1845. When J. was 17 
years of age, his father moved his family to Lexington, this county. 
Being a miller and millwright, he erected a mill for McGraw & Bros., of 
Lexington, which he operated for a number of years. In the spring of 
1861 he enlisted in the confederate army, company A, Gordon's regiment, 
under Gen. Price. Held the rank of first lieutenant. He participated in 
the following battles, in all of which he acquitted himself, as a brave sol- 
dier and an. honorable gentleman: Lexington, Springfield, Prairie Grove, 
Cowskin Prairie, Shreveport, Helena, Corinth, Ballstown and other 
minor engagements. Was mustered out at Shreveport May, 1865. He 
then returned to Lexington, and engaged in the carriage making business, 
which he followed there for ten years. In 1876 he went to Dover, where 
he has since resided engaged in the same business. October 10, 1872, he 
was married to Miss Anna Hill, of Greenton, this county. They have 



562 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

four children: Delia, Ferdie, Johnie, Otis. Mr. B's parents are natives 
of Virginia. His wife's were born in this state. While in the army he 
was chief musician, under Gen. Parsons. His talents in this line were of 
the highest order, in token of which he was presented with a beautiful 
drum with brass hoops and lignum-vitae sticks, while at Shreveport. 
He had the best field band in the trans-Mississippi department. The 
presentation was made by the general inspector of arms, of said depart- 
ment. Mr. Butler is a thriving, intelligent, business man, respected by his 
fellow citizens. 

GEGRGE W. MARQUIS, 

teacher, postoffice, Dover. Is a native of this state and county, born Oct. 
23, 1840. Was educated at the Old Masonic College at Lexington. 
After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at blacksmithing, which 
trade he followed until the opening of the civil war. Located in Lexing- 
ton. May. 17, 1861, he enlisted in the confederate service, . company G, 
Col. McCullough's regiment, under Gen. Price. Engaged in the follow- 
ing battles: Wilson's Creek, Elk Horn, Corinth and various minor 
engagements. At the battle of Collinsville he was shot in the right side, 
the ball striking a rib and glancing around came out at the left side, a 
narrow escape. Was taken prisoner at Moscow, Tenn., and taken to 
Alton, Ills., where he was detained ten months. Was mustered out May 
17, 1865, at Columbus, having served four years to a day. After the war 
he located at Oakland, engaged in blacksmithing. In 1866, he engaged 
in the mercantile business, which he followed for one year. He after- 
wards engaged in teaching, which occupation he followed until Sept. 1880, 
teaching a greater part of the time in Mississippi. At the time above men- 
tioned, he came to this county, locating at Dover. He expects to resume 
teaching again this fall. December 23, 1869, he was married to Miss 
Mary F. Bell, of Tallahatchie county, Miss. They have two children: 
Willie and Claude. Mr. M's father came to this county in 1819, at the 
age of twelve years being one of the pioneer settlers of this county. He 
died in 1861. Mr. M. is a member of A. F. & A. M., Glasgow Lodge, 
354, Miss. Also a member of K. of P., Amity Lodge, 982, Pope Station, 
Miss. Also of I. O. G. T., Dover Lodge, 221. Is a worthy and consis- 
tent member of the Christian church. 

JOHN McABEL, 

blacksmith and merchant, postoffice, Dover. The subject of this sketch 
is a native of Marion county, Mo., born May 6, 1822. His parents moved 
from Marion to Polk county, Mo., in 1832, where his father opened up a 
farm, he being the second man to put in a crop of corn in the county. 
They lived in Polk county eight years. John then started out into the 






HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 563 

world for himself, going to Texas, where he remained for two years. He 
then returned to Hannibal, Marion county, where he learned his trade, 
serving an apprenticeship of four and a half years with John S. Herrick, 
of that place. In 1847, April 27th, he was married to Miss Lucinda Bry- 
ant, of Ralls county, a native of Virginia, hy whom he has one child: John 
J. His wife dying, he was again married to Mrs. Elizabeth Estes, nee 
Franklin. On account of his wife's ill health, Mr. McAbel spent the 
greater portion of the time until 1877, in travering through various coun- 
ties of the state, seeking a congenial climate. During his travels he loca- 
ted for a short time in each of the following places: Lexington, Waverly, 
Malta Bend, Arrow Rock, Jacksonville, Randolph county, Macon City, 
Macon county, Bloomington, same county, Waverly again and then in 
1877 coming to Dover, where he now resides. He is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M., Dover Lodge, 122, and also of the I. O. G. T., Dover 
Lodge, 221. Is also a member in good standing of the M. E. church, 
south. Mr. McA. is the founder of the Alpha Lodge, at Waverly, and 
through his influence the lodge at Dover was formed. He has been a 
Good Templar since '.'>7. Is the " village blacksmith " of Dover, and is 
doing a splendid business in his line. Is an influential man and a good 
citizen. 

ALFRED O. DOWNING, 

P. O. Page City, Mo. The young gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch, and who is one of the enterprising farmers of the vicinity of Page 
City, was born in Lexington, Ky., May 3, 1849. He is the son of Samuel 
Downing, Sr., who died in this county in 1876. His mother was Miss 
Amanda Offatt, a native of Kentucky, where she also died. His father 
then, in 1856, married Miss Margaret Combs, of Lexington, Ky., his sec- 
ond wife, who, after his death, married Judge Walker, of Lexington, Mo. 
In 1857, when between seven and eight years old, Alfred moved with his 
father to Boonville, Mo., and after a year's residence there, they moved to 
this county, and settled on a tract of 440 acres of land in Dover township, 
upon part of which Alfred now lives. He was educated at White's Semi- 
nary at Dover. He was too young to take any part in the civil war, 
though his sympathies were with the South, and a brother served four 
years under Shelby. On the 22d of September, 18S0, he was married to 
Miss Lura Logan, daughter of Henry Logan, deceased, of Parkersburg, 
Va. They have one child, a daughter named Mary, born June 27, 1881. 

SAMUEL DOWNING, 

P. O. Page City, Mo. One of the old battle-scarred veterans of Shelby's 
famous command, was born in Lexington, Ky., August 12, 1842. Con- 
cerning his parents, Samuel and Amanda Downing, see biography of his 



564 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

brother, Alfred Downing. He also came with his father to this state in 

1857, and settled first in Boonville for one year, and then in this county in 

1858, where he has since lived. He was partly raised and educated in 
Kentucky, and partly at Dover, in this county. He was raised on a farm 
and has never followed any other calling. In 1861 he volunteered in Com- 
pany " A," 3d Mo. Cav., the first company of Shelby's old brigade, which 
was organized by Shelby himself. The regiment was commanded by Col. 
Frank Gordon. About twelve months after he enlisted, the regiment was 
put into Shelby's brigade, mostly recruited from this county. His com- 
pany being the oldest and best drilled in the brigade, they generally had the 
brunt to bear in battle, and when picked men were chosen for special and 
daring service, they were generally taken from Company " A " of Gor- 
don's regiment. Mr. Downing served the entire four years under Shelby, 
being in nearly all the battles west of the river, Pea Ridge, Oak Hill, Little 
Rock, Prairie Grove, Hartsville, Springfield, Marshall, Lexington, the Big 
and Little Blue, Westport, etc., etc. He was altogether in about two 
hundred fights. He was never seriously wounded, and had his horse shot 
under him. He was twice captured, once in 1861 in Bates County, Mo., 
by Jim Lane, was paroled, and returned to this county on foot. He was 
then dragged, with his father, to Lexington and imprisoned in a dungeon 
by Capt. Clayton, of the Kansas troops, who refused to recognize Lane's 
parole. He was, however, released in a short time, and made his way at 
once to Shelby, considering that his arrest by Clayton released him from 
his parole. He was again captured, in 1865, at Duval's Bluff, Ark., taken 
to Little Rock, where he was at the surrender. He was released in April, 
1865. and reached home in May, since which time he has lived on his 
farm, but a short distance from the home and farm of his old leader, Gen. 
Shelby. Mr. Downing has never been married. As he was a good sol- 
dier, so he has proved a good citizen, and stands high among his neigh- 
bors, who are, many of them, his old comrades. 

FREDERICK D. FULKERSON, 

deceased. Though no longer among the living, Mr. Fulkerson will long 
be remembered among the old citizens of Lafayette county. He was born 
in Lee county, Virginia, March 17, 1809, and was the son of Peter and 
Margaret Fulkerson. He was raised and educated in Lee county, and 
moved to Missouri in 1S56. Being raised on a farm, he never followed 
any other calling. He operated a large farm in Virginia, and owned 
there a large body of slaves. Having sold his land in Virginia, in 1856, 
he moved his family and slaves to this county, where he purchased a 
large farm, on which his widow still resides. They moved from Virginia 
to Louisville, Kentucky, in wagons, and there embarked on the river, by 
which they came to this county, two and one-half miles southwest of Hig- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 565 

ginsville, where he continued to live until his death. He was twice mar- 
ried—first to Miss Nancy A. Dunn, May 31, 1842, daughter of John 
Dunn, a Scotch gentleman who had settled in Lee county, Virginia. She 
lived about seven years, and died December 5, 1849. His second mar- 
riage was February 16, 1851, to Miss W. Melissa Dunn, a younger sister 
of his first wife, who now survives him. By his first marriage he had one 
son and three daughters living; all married except one daughter. By his 
last union he had ten children, six of whom are living. Mr. Fulkerson 
took no part in the civil war, but remained quietly at home. He was 
always a union man and strongly opposed secession. He was driven from 
his home for a short time. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, 
as was also both his wives. He also belonged to the masonic order, 
though he attended no lodge after coming to this state. He suffered 
greatly with rheumatism prior to his death, but died peacefully July 18, 
1868. In his death the county lost a first-class citizen, and his family a 
faithful husband and father. 

BENJAMIN C. RIDGE, 

P. O. Higginsville, Missouri; son of one of the oldest citizens of this part 
of the county where he now resides. His father, Wm. Ridge, died in 
May, 1874. He emigrated to this state and county in 1834, from Adair 
county, Kentucky, and settled on the farm where his son now lives, 
between two and three miles southwest of Higginsville. Benjamin C. 
was born in Adair county, Kentucky, September 20, 1833, and came with 
his father to this county the next year, 1834, where he was raised on a 
farm and educated. During the border war in Kansas, he went there to 
lay claims, and to assist the pro-slavery side in the struggle — was not, how- 
ever, engaged in any of the fights. In 1861 he volunteered in the 3d Mis- 
souri cavalry, Gordon's regiment, under Gen. Shelby. He served through- 
out the war, and was in the battles of Cathage, Wilson's Creek, Lexing- 
ton, Prairie Grove, Mark's Mill, Jenkins' Ferry, Little Rock to Camden, 
in Shelby's raid, and in the battles of Price's last raid. He was wounded 
in the Westport battle in 1864. After the war he returned to this county 
and to farming; in which he has since been engaged. May 8, 1866, he 
was married' to Miss Winnie R. Warren, daughter of Anderson Warren, 
one of the pioneers of the county. He has had six children, five of them 
now living. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian church. 

THOMAS SHELBY, 

postoffice, Lexington, Mo. Was born in Marion county, near Lebanon, 
Ky., Sept. 23, 1818, and is the son of William and Nancy Shelby, {nee 
Edmonson). Both his parents were natives of Virginia. He was educa- 
ted and raised partly in Kentucky, and partly in Missouri. In 1836 he 



566 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

came with his father to this county, and shortly after purchased land 
between Lexington and Dover, on the old state road. He was raised on 
a farm, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He took no 
active part in the war, many circumstances combining to keep him at home, 
but did what he could to aid the southern cause. He has had a large 
experience as a trader in negroes and mules, which he pursued before the 
war. His father had increased his landed possessions to 2000 acres at his 
death, of which Thomas now owns about 1100 acres, improved, with an 
elegant residence. He was married in January 1838, to Miss Nancy H. 
Gordon, daughter of Geo. H. Gordon, a native of Kentucky, who was 
once surveyor of this county. His first wife died, April 21, 1876. He 
again married in Dec. 1877, to Miss Margaret R. Huston, of Ohio. By 
his first marriage he had thirteen children, five of whom are now living. 
By his last marriage he has had no children. He is a member of the 
Christian church, and has been since 1818, to which his first wife also 
belonged. His present wife belongs to the Episcopal church. His child- 
ren are members of the Christian church. 

TRAVIS BUFORD, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 1, 1847, 
raised and educated in this county, and has always lived here. His father, 
Manville T. Buford, is a citizen of this county. His mother, Elizabeth 
Buford, was a daughter of Wm. Shelby, deceased. He was raised on a 
farm, which is now and has been his vocation. He has a fine farm of 325 
acres six miles east of Lexington, and for years past he has been largely 
engaged in dealing in stock — buying, feeding and shipping. He was first 
married on the 9th of December, 1866, to Miss Alice Shelby, daughter of 
Thomas Shelby, who was also his cousin. She died in 1870, and he sub- 
sequently married Miss Mattie Gordon, daughter of Linn B. Gordon, of 
this countv. By his first marriage he has one son named William, and 
by his second two sons: Linn B. and Manville T. He is not a church 
member, but is a Mason. Mrs. Buford is a member of the Christian 
church. 

ANDREW J. SLUSHER, 

P. O. Dover, Mo. Was born in the old Slusher homestead in this county, 
four miles west of Dover, March 5, 1829, and is the son of Christopher 
Slusher, who came from Virginia to this county in 1828. He was raised 
and educated here, and has lived here all his life, engaged in farming. He 
was a southern sympathiser, and joined the confederate army in 1861, dur- 
ing Price's last raid, and was engaged in nearly all the fights of the retreat. 
After the war closed he returned home and gave his attention to his farm. 
He had, of course, lost his slaves, and nearly all his personal property, and 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 567 

had to renew and build up his broken fortunes. He has prospered since 
the war, and now has his splendid farm of 867 acres in fine condition. He 
was married December 1, 1851, to Miss Susanah Jane Woods, daughter 
of Archibald C. Woods, deceased, of this county. They have had ten 
children, seven of whom, two sons and five daughters, are now living. 
He is a member of the Grange, and stands high as an energetic and enter- 
prising citizen. 

YOUNG HICKLIN. 

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of this county 
and was born on the old James Hicklin homestead, two and one-half miles 
east of Lexington. He is son of James and Agnes Hicklin, and was born 
July 29, 1842. His mother was a daughter of Wm. Cross, of Howard 
county, Mo. His father was from Tennessee, and died in June, 1875. 
Young Hicklin was raised and educated in this county, and has lived here 
all his life, and since the war on the old homestead farm, where he was 
born. When about fifteen years old he left home and went to Texas, and 
after being there for a few months joined the Texas rangers on the fron- 
tier, and was with them under Gen. Ben. McCullough when the civil war 
broke out, and entered the confederate service under McCullough in 1861, 
but remained only a short time and then returned home. But the militia 
soon got after him, and he then went to Jackson county and joined the 
recruits under Capt. Hays and went south. His father sent for him to 
return and assist in getting his slaves to the south, which he did, being 
released for that purpose; but he was forced to take to the brush to save 
himself as soon as he got to this county. He then went into the regular ser- 
vice under Gen. Raine, and was in a battery, commanded by Capt. Rob- 
erts, at Pea Ridge, and was with this battery until after the battle of Jenk- 
ins' Ferry, where a section of the battery was captured, and most of the 
men and horses killed. The battery was charged by two negro regiments, 
who murdered the men promiscuously after the capture. Hicklin escaped 
by jumping into a lake — was afraid to surrender to the negroes. He then 
made his way to Shelby, and soon went into the recruiting service under 
Cols. Coffey and Crisp, with a captain's commission. He was in Price's 
last raid, but left the army on leave after it returned south. Went to Ellis 
county, Texas, where he remained until the surrender. He was in the 
battles of Lexington, Jenkins' Ferry, Prairie Grove, and numerous minor 
engagements, and in the battles of Price's raid. He was captured once, 
at Little Rock, but was exchanged in a short time. After he returned 
home in 1865 he still had trouble with the militia element, but held his 
own, until the times got quiet. While with a friend, Arch Clemments, in 
Lexington, they were attacked. Clemments was shot down, but Hicklin 



568 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

escaped by running and going for a time to Saline county. He was mar- 
ried June 6, 1869, to Miss Eliza Plummer, of Saline county. They have 
three children, one son and two daughters. He was engaged five years in 
the cattle business in Colorado, where he made money, and in 1875 
returned and bought the old homestead and handsomely improved the 
same. Both he and his wife belong to the M. E. church, south. 

LOCK TERHUNE, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. The subject of this sketch was born in Mer- 
cer county, Kentucky, near Harrodsburg, August 6, 1835, where he was 
raised and educated, and came to this state shortly before the beginning 
of the war. His parents, Isaac and Sallie Terhune, are still living in Mer- 
cer county, Kentucky. At the age of twenty years Mr. Terhune moved 
to Jackson county in this state, where he remained about four years, 
engaged in farming. In 1859 he moved to this county, and was engaged 
in managing the business of Mr. Catron, until the death of the latter in 
1862. After his death he has continued to manage the farm for Mrs. 
Catron, to the present time. He owns two farms in this county, one of 
118 acres on the Dover road, and one of 350 acres on the Salt Pond road, 
which he manages besides managing the two farms of Mrs. Catron. He 
was married in October, 1876, to Miss Mary Ramey, daughter of Andrew 
Ramey, deceased. They have two daughters living. Mr. Terhune is a 
Granger, and a man of large business experience and sound judgment. 

CAPT. JAMES B. S. KIRTLEY, 

P. O. Lexington Capt. Kirtley was born in Boone county, Kentucky, 
February 2, 1841:. His father, William Kirtley, is now living in this 
county, a short distance south of Dover. His mother, Elizabeth Kirtley, 
was a daughter of Isaac Shelby, who formerly lived in this county. In 
the year of his birth, 1844, Captain Kirtley moved with his parents to 
this county, and settled on the farm where his father still resides. He was 
raised in this county and partly educated here and partly in the Baptist 
college, at Georgetown, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1867. During 
the war he served under Gen. Shelby in the confederate army. He first 
enlisted in 1861 in the state guard, in which he was captured by Jim Lane 
in Bates County. He was released on parole, and came home and 
assisted his father in moving his slaves to Arkansas, and then rejoined 
Shelby. After the batttle of Corinth he enrolled in Company A, First 
Missouri cavalry, Gordon's regiment, of which he was elected second lieu- 
tenant, and was captain from 1863 to the end. During that period he was 
on Col. Shank's staff. After the surrender he went with Shelby to Mex- 
ico. He was in nearly all of the principal battles west of the river, and 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 569 

some east, from Carthage in 1861, to Price's last raid in 1861. After 
remaining a year in Mexico, he returned home and went to Georgetown, 
Kentucky, college, and graduated. He was married on November 11, 
1873, to Miss Sarah T. McCord, daughter of William McCord, deceased. 
They have had four children, all girls, the two youngest of whom are liv- 
ing. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was raised 
on a farm, and is now engaged in farming on the old McCord farm three 
miles east of Lexington. He also deals largely in stock. 



FREEDOM TOWNSHIP. 
F. BRAECKLIEN, 

physician and druggist; P. O. Concordia ; born in Germany, March, 1835,. 
where he was raised and educated; primarily, in the common schools, and 
ultimately, graduating at a medical college, at Wurzburg. In 1856 he 
came to the United States, landing at New Orleans, where he remained 
nine months. From there he came to Missouri and settled down to the 
practice of his profession in St. Charles county, where he remained until 
the breaking out of the civil war. While here he was married to Sophia 
Meyer, a native of Missouri, by whom he had seven children, four of 
whom are living: Laura, Thecla, Ida, and William. During the early 
part of the war he acted as surgeon in Col. Krekle's regiment; being after- 
wards transferred to the 28th Osage regiment, at Jefferson Cit}\ Sub- 
sequently, he held the office of post surgeon, with the court house as his 
hospital. Afterwards he was appointed U. S. examining surgeon for the 
counties of Osage, Maries, Miller, and Lafayette. After the war closed, 
he practiced for nine years at Westphalia, Osage. In 1873 he moved to 
Concordia, where he has since resided. January 27, 1880, he became pro- 
prietor of one of the two drug stores in Concordia, in the operations of 
which he has a liberal patronage. This, in connection with an excellent 
practice, occupies his entire time and attention. The doctor and his wife 
'are both active and consistent members of the Lutheran church, and held 
in high estimation by all who know them. 

HENRY W. THIEMAN, 

hardware and implements, P. O. Concordia. Born in Hanover, Germany, 
Oct. 29, 1843. In 1845 he came with his father's family to the United 
States, coming directly to Lafayette county, where he has since resided. 
Obtained his education in the common schools of the county. In 1870 he 



570 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

was married to Miss Mary Rihkop, a native of Canada. They have had 
five children, three of whom are now living: Henry, Edward and Daniel. 
Mr. Thieman and his brother Lewis, composing the firm of Thieman 
Bros., are engaged in the hardware and implement trade — doing a thriv- 
ing business, which has been gradually growing for the last seven years, 
during which they have been engaged in it. In 1861 he enlisted in the 
Horse Guards — Col. Grover's Regt., Capt. Becker's Co. Was captured 
in the first battle of Lexington and paroled. In 1864 he re-enlisted in the 
15th Mo. Vol. Infantry, under Col. Wear. Was mustered out in the 
spring of 1865. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church at 
Concordia. In 1866 he was elected constable of Freedom township, in 
which capacity he served for two years, in a manner acceptable to all 
concerned. In 1870 he served as assistant U. S. Marshal in taking the 
census of Freedom, Davis and Washington townships. In the iall of the 
same year he was elected Justice of the Peace for his township, in which 
capacity he has served ever since; a fact which of itself is good and com- 
petent evidence of his ability to administer justice. Mr. Thieman is also 
president of the Concordia Savings Bank. He is a whole-souled, genial 
gentleman, honored and respected by all. 

MOSES WELBORN, 

farmer, P. O. Aullville. Was born in this county, Oct. 30th, 1842. In 1838 
his father, D. M. Welborn, came to this state and county from North 
Carolina. While in North Carolina he was united in marriage to Cath- 
arine Bodenhamer, by whom he had 12 children, five of whom are now 
living: D. M. died in the fall of 1880, and was buried at the Scott grave 
yard. His wife died in 1863 and was buried in the same place. Moses, 
the third child, was raised on a farm and educated in the common 
schools of the county. He now owns 300 acres of fine farming land situ- 
ated about five miles south of Aullville. In 1862 he enlisted in Company 
" B "—Col. Phillip's Regt., Slate Militia. He participated in the follow- 
ing battles, in all of which he acquitted himself in a manner becoming a 
brave soldier and an honorable gentleman: Independence, Blues, West- 
port, Mines Creek, Marshall. In the spring of 1865 he was honorably 
discharged, after which he spent three years in Colorado, engaged in 
freighting. He is an energetic, enterprising business man, enjoying the 
confidence of all with whom he deals. 

J. KROENCKE, 

dry goods, P. O. Concordia. Born in Bremervorde, Hanover, Germany, 
Dec. 4th, 1841. Obtained his education there. At the age of 13 he 
came with his father's family to the United States, landing at New 
Orleans. From there they went to Benton county, where he lived until 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 571 

he breaking out of the Civil War. He completed his education in that 
ounty. June 13th, 1861, he enlisted in the Home Guards, under Col. 
?ook, Company " B." Was mustered out Sept. 13, 1861. Was engaged 
i the battle of the "two barns "in Benton county. After leaving the 
rmy he came to this county where he has since resided. In 1864 he was 
carried to Sophia Brockman, daughter of Geo. Brockman and a native of 
liis county. They had four children, two of whom are now living: Anna 
nd Mary. His wife died in 1870 and is buried at the Lutheran grave 
ard at Concordia. In 1873 he was again married to Sophia Frerking, a 
ative of this county, and daughter of Wm. Frerking. By this union he 
as had four children, three of whom are now living: Ida, Willi im and 
Arthur. In 1869 he opened a dry goods store in Concordia, there being 
nly one other in the place. His is now the oldest firm in the business, 
nd has a good run of custom. He is a stockholder in the Concordia 
lavings Bank, of which he is also vice-president. When the town was 
icorporated he was a member of the first board of trustees. Was also 
lected as one of the board of school directors, besides serving the public 
i other minor capacities, which fully illustrates the confidence reposed in 
im by his fellow-citizens. Mr. K. and his wife are honored members of 
le Lutheran church at Concordia. 

E. A. TAYLOR, 

hysician and surgeon. P. O. Concordia. Was born in Hunterdon 
ounty N. J., August 13, 1834. When he was seven years of age, his 
arents brought him to this state and county, and settled near " Parine 
Church, " about seven miles south of Lexington. His early education 
/as obtained in the common schools of the county, under the tutorship of 
is father. In 1866, he entered the N. Y. University, as a medical 
tudent, remaining there one term. He afterwards entered the St. Louis 
ledical College, from which he graduated in 1872. He then came to 
lis county and located at Aullville, where he practiced two years, at the 
nd of which he went to Concordia, where he is now engaged in the prac- 
ce of his profession. Previous to his graduation he practiced for seven 
r eight years in Henry and Benton counties. In 1865, he was married 
d Florence H. McKee, of Quincy, Illinois, a native of Va., by whom he 
ad seven children, five of whom are now living: Ida B., Anna A., Ern- 
st R., Robert M. and Grandin F. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. " A ", Col. 
Itieffel's regiment, just in time to participate in the battle of Lexington, 
l which he was captured and afterward paroled. In 1862, he again 
nlisted in the 7th M. S. M., under Col. Phillips. He acted as hospital 
teward, in which capacity he was engaged until the close of the war. 
)r. Taylor is a finished scholar and a genial gentleman, eminently worthy 
>f the liberal patronage bestowed upon him. 



572 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNT V. 

EMIL F. NINAS, 

marshal. P. O. Concordia. Was born in Prussia, March 12, 1842. At 
the age of ten, he came with his parents to the United States, stopping at 
Milwaukee, Wis., where the family lived for five years; he there complet- 
ing his education, begun in Germany. He attended a German Academy 
at Sac City. In 1857, he left there and came to Missouri, and stopped 
near Hannibal, where he worked on a farm for one year, at the end of 
which he came to Lexington where he remained for another year. From 
here he went to the German settlement near Cook's store. In 1867, he 
Was married to Matilda Stinkle, daughter of H. D. Stinkle. By this 
union he has one child: Henry. His wife dying, he afterwards married 
Mary Knoch, a native of Pennsylvania. They have three children: 
Elenora, Laura and Arthur. Mr. Ninas is the proprietor of the city 
hotel, and being a genial man and an excellent landlord, his house is well 
patronized. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. "D" 2d Missouri Infantry for 
three months. At the expiration of that time he re-enlisted in same regi- 
ment, Col. F. Schaffer, in which he held the rank of sergent of Co. "E". 
He was engaged in the following battles: Pea Ridge, Corinth, Perry ville, 
Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Franklin, Nashville and in all 
of the engagements of Sherman's command, while on the "march to the 
sea." At the battle of Chickamauga he was slightly wounded in the 
right side, which, however, proved not to be serious. Mr. N. has a good 
record as a soldier, and a reputation as a private citizen of which any one 
may be proud. 

A. P. REED, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Concordia. Born in Jackson county, Illinois, 
June 28, 1844. His early life was spent in the place of his birth up to the 
opening of the civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Fourth 
Ohio volunteer infantry, with which command he took an active part in 
the following engagements: South Mountain and Antietam. He was 
badly wounded in the latter battle, in consequence of which he lay in the 
hospital for two months, after which he was discharged and sent home. 
Having regained his former haalth, he re-enlisted in Company E, Second 
Missouri cavalry. Was engaged in the battles of Cape Girardeau, 
Bloomfield, and in Col. Glover's celebrated charge at Black Jack Ridge, 
near Four Mile, Missouri. He also assisted in the capture of the cele- 
brated guerrilla, Bollin. He was twice captured by the guerrillas, but 
happily succeeded in making his escape each time. Shortly after the 
war, at the age of 22, he entered the university at Nashville, takine the 
medical course, in which he graduated with honor. Shortly after he was 
married to Julia R. Schwab, a native of Switzerland, by whom he had 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 573 

three children, none of whom are living. After his marriage he went to 
southeast Missouri, where he was engaged in the practice of medicine 
for twelve years at Allenville, Cape Gerardeau county. From there he 
went to St. Louis, living there about eighteen months, after which he 
located in this county at Concordia, where he has since resided, enjoying 
a lucrative practice. In 1877 he was again united in marriage, to Miss 
Olive Reed, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Paul A. Mrs. 
Reed is a graduate of Mt. Hope seminary, Kentucky, and a highly cul- 
tivated and estimable lady. 

LEWIS A. OETLING, 

dry goods and grocery, P. O. Concordia; born in this county in 1858. He 
was educated in the German and public schools of this county and also at 
Brownsville, Saline county. His early life was spent on a farm. In the 
spring of 1880 he entered into partnership with Mr. Brunes, in the dry 
goods and grocery business at Concordia. The firm are carrying a well 
selected stock worth $6,000, and are doing an excellent business, amount- 
ing in the last year to eighteen or twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Brunes, 
his partner, is a man of excellent business tactics and social qualities, 
which combined with the known integrity and ability of our subject, repre- 
sent a firm of which the citizens of Concordia and the surrounding 
country may well be proud. Both men enjoy the esteem and confidence 
of the people to the fullest extent. Mr. Oetling in his religious views 
inclines towards the Lutheran belief, of which church, at Concordia, he is 
an active member and a staunch supporter. 

ALBERT ALTHOFF, 

editor of Missouri Thalbote, P. O. Concordia; is a native of Germany, 
born April 18, 184:5. His early education was secured in the country of 
his birth. In 1866, he came to the United States, locating at first in Ste- 
phenson county, Illinois. During two years of the time he lived there he 
attended college at Cincinnati.. Afterwards he moved to St. Charles, 
Missouri, where he taught school for six years; the length of his engage- 
ment being itself a sufficient index to his ability as a teacher. He then 
came to this county where he resided at Lexington for three and a half 
years, engaged in teaching a private school, and in editing the Missouri 
Thcilb>te, a paper which he took with him upon his removal to Concor- 
dia and of which he is still the editor and proprietor. In 1870 he was 
married to Miss Mina Freitag, a native of Germany, by which union they 
have had five children, four of whom are now living: Albert, Arthur, 
Paulina, and Lydia. On October 11, 1880, he was appointed poormaster 
for Concordia, in which capacity he is still serving with credit to himself 
x 



574 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and the community. He is a man of energy and enterprise, as shown by 
the multiplicity of his duties, in all of which he conducts himself with 
ability. 

H. F. MEINECKE, 

furniture dealer, P. O. Concordia; born in this state and county, March 
12, 1856, where he was raised and educated. In 1872 he commenced 
learning the trade of cabinet maker, working with the firm of H. & F. 
Winkler, of Lexington, with which firm he remained for seven and one- 
half years, at the end of which time he had thoroughly mastered the art. 
In 1879 he went to Concordia and opened a furniture store, carrying a full 
stock of goods. He is doing an excellent business, selling from seven to 
eight thousand dollars worth of goods per year. He is a young man of 
much promise, already enjoying a business and social reputation, acquired 
by few of his years. 

J. H. POWELL, 

station agent and operator, R. R., P. O. Concordia. Is a native of Han- 
cock County, O., born October 26, 1845. Was reared on a farm and edu- 
cated in the public schools, and the High school at Finley. In February, 
1863, he enlisted in Company " F," 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under 
Col. James Neibling. He participated in the following battles: Jonesbor- 
ough, Goldsboro, and Raleigh. At the last named place he was captured 
by the " Hampton Scouts," and detained a prisoner for 17 days. After 
the surrender of Johnston he was released and went to Richmond, and 
from thence to Louisville by way of Washington, D. C, where he was 
honorably discharged and sent home. In 1870 he came to Knob Noster, 
Mo., entering a railroad office in charge of H. P. Hull, with whom he 
remained two years. In 1872 he came to this county, locating at Concor- 
dia, taking charge of the depot as agent and operator. In December of 
same year he was united in marriage to Miss F. L. Smith, a native of 
Newark, N. J., born in July, 1855. They are blessed with three chil- 
dren, all of whom are living: Lillie, Everett, and Gertrude. Mr. Powell 
is a man of worth, respected by all who know him. 

J. W. MEYER, 

livery stable, P. O. Concordia. Born in Lafayette county, September 8, 
1855. His early life was spent on'a farm, and his education obtained in 
the public schools. At the close of his school life, he was engaged in 
farm work until the year 1877, at which time, he, in partnership with C. 
J. Frerking, opened a livery stable in Concordia. In 1880 Mr. J. H. 
Powell purchased the interest of Mr. Frerking, the firm being now styled 
" Meyer & Co." Mr. Meyer, in his business capacity, is keeping pace 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 575 

with the demands of the people, having his stable sufficiently stocked to do 
all the business required in that line. He does all of the transferring of 
goods for the merchants in town, and in fact has a monopoly of the busi- 
ness. 

D. H. SMITH, 

boot and shoemaker, P. O. Concordia. Born in Newark, N. J., Decem- 
ber 25, 1S59. At the age of 9 he went with his parents to Lexington, 
Mo., where he continued his attendance in the public schools, completing 
his education, begun in New Jersey at the Johnson Academv in Monroe, 
Ills. About the year 1870 his parents moved to Concordia, where the 
family has since resided. There he learned the trade of shoemaker from 
his father, and has been engaged in it since. His father dying June 9, 
1878, D. H. purchased hi^ stock of boots and shoes from the other heirs, 
and is doing a good business in that line. He carries a stock worth $1,500, 
and his yearly sales amount to $4,000. In 1881, February, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Emma Huscher, a native of this county. The young 
couple start in life under favorable auspices. The husband has health, 
strength, and a good business, and there is no apparent reason why their 
journey through life should not be over a path strewn with roses and not 
thorns. 

GUST A V WAHRENBROCK, 

carpenter and lumber dealer, P. O. Concordia. Born in this state and 
county, August 7, 1849. Was raised on a farm, and educated principally 
in the German and public schools of the county. Attended the Warrtn 
County college for five months. After leaving school he learned the car- 
penter's trade, which he has followed since. In 1873 he was married to 
Miss Louise Egger, a native of Germany, by whom he has three chil- 
dren: Albert, Otto, and Robert. In 1876 he started a lumber yard at 
Concordia, which business he has since conducted in connection with his 
trade. Has a stock worth $2,000, and is doing an excellent business, sell- 
ing to the amount of $10,000 worth yearly. Mr. W. is a man of strict 
integrity and good business qualifications, dealing n'ith others as he would 
be dealt by. His father was killed by bushwhackers a short distance east 
of Concordia, an account of which is given in the war history of the 
county. 

REV. F. J. BILTZ, 

pastor of the Lutheran church, postoffice. Concordia. Is a native of Sax- 
ony, Germany, born July 24, ]825. His early education was obtained in 
the place of his birth. At the age of 13, he and his sister, Louisa, came 
to the United States, stopping one winter at St. Louis, and in the spring 



576 HISTORY OF LAFAVETTE' COUNTV. 

of 1839, moved to Perry county. At this time a college was organized 
at Altenburg, of said county, in which he was enrolled as one of the first 
students. He spent eight years in this institution, graduating after tak- 
ing a complete and thorough course in theology. In 1847 he received a 
call from the congregation of a church in Appleton, Cape Girardeau Co., 
to which he responded, preaching there until 1853. In 1849, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary V. Wurmb, born at the Cape of Good Hope. They 
have had thirteen children, six of whom are now living; Clara, Bertha, 
Adolphus, Julius, Mary and Gustave. In 1833, he moved to Cumberland, 
Maryland, where he resided until 1860, having charge of the Lutheran 
church at that place. He then came to the German settlement, in Lafay- 
ette county, where he took charge of the Lutheran church, of which he 
has since been pastor, having the care of this little flock for nearly a quar- 
ter of a century, ministering to their temporal as well as spiritual wants. 
His worth as a man, needs no other index than the above. 

CONRAD STUNKLE, 

ex-judge and farmer, postoffice, Concordia; was born in Hanover, Ger- 
many, Dec. 11, 1811; was reared and educated there. In 1837, he came 
to the United States, over which he spent three years in traveling. In 
1840, he was married to Mary Gerberdinge, of St. Louis, formerly of 
Germany, by whom he had seven children, three of whom are now liv- 
ing: Lewis, Derinda, (Mrs. Frung), and Louisa, (Mrs. Bersicker). In 
1845, he settled on the farm, where he now resides, consisting of 185 acres 
of excellent farming land, which joins the city of Concordia on the north. 
In 1869 he was elected judge of the county court, for a term of six years. 
In 1875, the trouble in regard to the compromising of the Lexington & St. 
Louis railroad bonds coming up, he, with his associate judges, resigned 
office. Judge Stunkle favored a compromise, his plan being to have a 
committee of the people to wait upon Ihe bondholders and secure as favor- 
able an adjustment of the difficulty as possible. The judge and family 
are all members of the Lutheran church and are held in high estimation 
by all who know them. 

REV. JOHN MEYER, 

pastor of Methodist church at Concordia; born in Germany, Oct. 5, 1832. 
Was raised 'and educated there until he was nine years of age, when his 
parents brought him to the United States, locating in Henry county, Mo., 
where they lived for sixteen years. He then went to St. Louis, where he 
finished his studies of the common branches. Being in somewhat strait- 
ened circumstances, he was. obliged to pursue his studies under great dis- 
advantages. By dint of hard work and close application, however, he 
succeeded in acquiring a very good education. He is a self-made man in 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 577 

the full sense of the word. In 1865, he began his studies for the minis- 
try, finally passing his examination before the Southern Illinois Confer- 
ence. In 1869, he was ordained an elder of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, since which time he has officiated as pastor in the following 
named places: Second Creek, Gasconade Co., Union, Franklin Co., 
Hopewell, Warren Co., Burger, Franklin county, Lake Creek, Pettis Co., 
Concordia, Lafayette Co. He settled in the latter place in 1880, preach- 
ing his first sermon on the 3d day of October. He is an enthusiastic 
expositor of the doctrines which he has espoused, doing his duty as he 
sees it, regardless of consequences. 

W. F. WALKENHORST, 

teacher and farmer, postoffice, Concordia; born in this county, Aug. 23, 
1844. His early life was spent upon a farm, and in acquiring an edecation 
in the common schools of the county. In 1861, he enlisted in company C, 
Enrolled State Militia, Major Henry Neill, commanding. In 1862, he re- 
enlisted in Co. B, M. S. M., 7th regiment, commanded by Col. Phillips. 
He entered as private; was promoted first to corporal and then to bugler. 
Was engaged in the following battles: Lexington, Independence, Blues, 
Westport, Mines Creek and Marshall. Was honorably discharged, July 
9th, at St. Louis. In 1870, he was married to Hannah Kuester, a native 
of this county, by whom he had six children, four of whom are now living: 
Isabella, Emma, Alberta, Ida. 

JOHN D. KUESTER, 

postoffice, Concordia. Is a native of Germany, born March 11,1820. Was 
partially educated in his native land. At the age of eleven, he came with 
his parents to the United States, locating in Benton county, this state; 
where they lived until 1849, when they came to Lafayette county, where 
they have since resided. In 1862, he enlisted in company B, 7th M. S. M., 
Col. Phillips. He was on a furlough and received orders to report at 
Lexington, which he did. Upon his arrival he was captured by some of 
Gen. Price's men; detained for ten days and then came home. He was 
with the party of Germans who were attacked by bushwhackers on the 
10th of Oct. 1864, near Brownsville. He was one of the five or six who 
succeeded in making their escape. In 1852 he was married to Elizabeth 
Powling, a native of Germany. They have six children, all living: Han- 
nah M., Emma, Jonathan, Edward, Sophia, William. Mr. Kuester is an 
industrious, enterprising man, popular with his fellow-citizens. 

FREDERICK COOK, 

of the firm of Cook & Vogt, hardware, P. O. Concordia; born in Osage 
county, Mo., March 2d, 1S46. When he was eight years of age he went 



578 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

with his father and family to Wisconsin, where he lived for seven years, 
in the meantime acquiring a fair education in the public schools. From 
there he went to Freeport, Ills., where he resided until after the war. In 
1863 he enlisted in Capt. Green's company, 142d Ills., but was not mus- 
tered into the service. In 1866 he came to Johnson county, this state, 
where he lived until 1876. While residing here he was married to Miss 
Stina Frerking, by whom he has three children: Dora, Frederick, Clara. 
In 1876 he moved to this county and settled at Concordia, and was 
engaged in general merchandise business for three years. During the 
years of '79 and '80 he held the position of post-master. In 1881, Feb- 
ruary, he entered into a partnership with Julius Vogt, in the hardware 
and agricultural implement business. The firm is doing a flourishing 
business, carrying a stock worth $5,000. Mr. Cook is a man of energy 
and enterprise, and since his residence in the county has contributed 
largely toward its prosperity. 

HENRY DEUCHLER, 
grain dealer, P. O. Concordia; born in Baden, Germany, August 7, 1849. 
He was raised and educated in his native country, where he resided until 
the age of 18, when he came to the United States, over which he spent 
one year in traveling. California, Missouri was the first place in which 
he stopped for any length of time, remaining there for four years, 
engaged in milling, having learned the trade in Europe. He also worked 
for three months in Sedalia, at the same business. In 1872 he came to 
Concordia, where he has since resided with the exception of one year, 
1875. At present he is engaged in buying and shipping grain, doing a 
very lucrative business. In 1874, August 10, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Lena Brinckman, a native of St. Louis, Mo. They have had 
three children, two of whom are now living, Henry and John. Both he 
and his wife are active and consistent members of the Evangelical church 
at Concordia, respected by all. 

MISS LUCY JOHNSON, 
milliner, P. O. Concordia, was born in California, Mo. At an early age 
she went with her mother to Warrensburg, Mo., where she was educated, 
graduating with the highest honors at the State Normal school of that 
place. While living in Franklin county she devoted the most of her time 
and attention to teaching. She was engaged in the schools of Warrens- 
burg, Knob Noster and Holden. In 1879, being a practical milliner, she 
came to Concordia and opened a millinery establishment, in which she 
has a fine stock of goods and is having quite a lucrative trade. Miss 
Johnson is modest and unassuming in her demeanor, intelligent and of 
good social qualities, and is eminently deserving of the respect and liberal 
patronage accorded her by the community at large. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 579 

REV. W. GAERTNER, 
pastor of St. John's church, P.O. Concordia ; a native of German y,born Aug. 
13, 1846; was educated there, taking a Theological course at the "Mis- 
sion House" at Bremen. At the age of 3t he first saw the shores of this 
mighty republic, locating in Saline county, Nebraska, where he preached 
for two years. In 1S76, June 21st, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Louisa Schlapper. Their union was blessed with four children, three 
now living, as follows: Paula, Clara, Hildegarde; the deceased was 
named William. On the 21st of September, 1877, he came to Lafayette 
county and located about three miles north-east of Concordia, where he is 
now living; having in charge as pastor, the St. John's church. Mr. Gaert- 
ner is highly esteemed as a citizen and revered as a pastor. 

JOHN S. KLINGENBERG, 
flouring mill, P. O. Concordia; is a native of this state and county, born 
Dec. 26, 1850; was educated in the common schools and raised on a farm. 
His father, H. H. Klingenberg, is one of the old settlers of the county; he 
is a native of Prussia, and came here in 1837: he was married to Cather- 
ine Brunyes, a native of Germany. They have had seven children, six of 
whom are now living: John, Henry, Joseph, Louisa, Margarette, Mary. 
John, the oldest, and the subject of this sketch, was married in 1873 to 
Matilda Koenig, a native of St. Louis county, Mo. They have three 
children: Albert, George and Jesse. He is the proprietor of the "Con- 
cordia Star Mills," complete in all its appointments, with three run of 
stone and a capacity of 35 barrels per day. He is also the owner of the 
warehouse near the railroad, through which he handles large quantities 
of all kinds of grain; is doing a thriving business. Mr. Klingenberg and 
his wife are members of the Methodist church at Concordia. 

C. W. KEMMERLY, 
jeweler, P. O. Concordia; born in York county, Penn., Oct. 14, 1848. 
While quite young he came with his parents to Sandusky county, Ohio, 
where he lived until he was seventeen years of age. His early life was 
spent on a farm in a manner usual to farmer boys, working on the farm in 
the summer and going to school winters. In 1866 he, with his father and 
family, came to Johnson county, Mo., where he lived until 1872, learning 
the jeweler's trade. In that year he came to Aullville, this county, and 
followed his trade. In 1874 he came to Concordia and opened a jewelry 
store in Thierman Bros' building, where he displays a fine stock of goods 
and has a lucrative trade. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Emma Hasler, a native of Germany. They have had four children, two 
of whom are now living: William J. and Birdie May. Mr. K. is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist church at Concordia; a man of worth and a good 
citizen. 



580 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

DRURY A. RIDGWAY, 

real estate and broker, Aullville, was born in Georgia, Jan, 28, 1820. 
Obtained his education in the common schools of that state. In 1842, 
June 30th, he was united in marriage to Miss Fanny S. Reese, by whom 
he has had seven children, six of whom are now living: D. A. Jr., 
F. V., E. B., Kate P., Annie E. and Fanny S. While living in Georgia 
he was engaged in farming and merchandising at Columbia. In 1858 he 
moved to Mississippi where he lived for the next ten years engaged in 
cotton planting. In 1868 he came to Independence, Mo., where he 
remained one year and then came to this county. He located at Aullville 
in May, 1872, where has since resided, engaged in the real estate and loan 
business. By the solicitation of friends he was appointed justice of the 
peace for his township and at the expiration of his term of appointment, 
was elected for ensuing term. After serving in this capacity for four 
years, he resigned the office, much to the regret of his fellow-citizens. 
Mr. Ridgway is an influential member of the Methodist church at Aull- 
ville and a man of intellectual strength and force of character. 

JOHN P. ARDINGER, 

merchant, Aullville post office, was born in Berkley county, Va., in 1839, 
where he was reared and educated. When the war broke out he enlisted 
in the First Virginia cavalry, commanded by Col. J. B. Jones. Was en- 
gaged in the following battles: first Manssas, Seven Pines, Wilderness, Will- 
iamsburg, Yorktown, Petersburg, second Manassas,Gettysburg, Antietam, 
New Baltimore, South Mountain and numerous other skirmishes. At the 
first battle of Manassas, he was slightly wounded just below the left knee. 
He was honorably discharged at Appomattox in 1865 and in 1866 he came 
to this county and engaged in the mercantile business at Greenton. From 
there he went to Lexington and in 1872 he went to Aullville, where he 
now resides engaged in a general merchandising business. In 1873 he 
was married to Miss Lucy C. Smith, a native of this county. They 
have four children: John P., May S., Robert C. and an infant not named. 
Mr. Ardinger owns 390 acres of first-class improved farm land, located 
near Pageville. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man and an 
invaluable member of society. Is a member of the Episcopal church. 

JOHN BENNETT, 

blacksmith, Aullville, Is a native of Ohio, born in Knox county, at Mt. 
Vernon, Jan. 29, 1831. He obtained his education in the common schools 
there and also learned the blacksmith trade. At the age of nineteen he 
moved to Jackson county, Mo., and settled at Lone Jack, where he lived 
until the war broke out. In 1853 he was married to Miss Mary Snow, a 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 58 1 

native of Jackson county, Mo. Their union was blessed with five child- 
ren, only two of whom are now living: Larestia and Linnia. His wife 
died in August, 1879 and was buried at Lone Jack. In 1862 he enlisted 
in Company C, Second regiment, Gen. Shelby's brigade, under Marma- 
duke. Fought at the battles of Lone Jack, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Cape 
Girardeau, Marshall, Sprinfield and Hartsville. He surrendered to Gen. 
McReynolds, at Little Rock in 1865. He then came to Lafayette county 
and lived at Dover for about three years and in 1868, went to Aullville 
where he now resides engaged in blacksmithing. Mr. Bennett is an 
industrious, reliable business man of whom nothing can be said to his 
discredit. 

LIEUT. W. A. THORNTON, 

grain-dealer, P. O. Aullville. Born in Orange county, Virginia, Decem- 
ber 12, 1827. The first school he attended was at Gordonsville. When 
quite young, he went to Cooper county, Missouri, where he grew to man- 
hood and finished his education. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the M. S. 
M., at Jefterson City, as lieutenant, in Capt. McCulloch's company. This 
battalion was soon after re-organized, at Coswkin Prairie. William 
Brown was elected colonel of the regiment, Robert M. McCulloch, lieu- 
tenant-colonel; R. A. McCulloch, captain of his company, and he still 
holding the office of lieutenant. He fought in the battles of Boonville, 
Drywood, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, Bolivar, Denmark and 
Sweden, Ft. Pillow, Holly Springs, and in all other engagements in which 
his command was engaged. In 1865, he was surrendered by Gen. Taylor 
to Gen. Canby. At that time he belonged to the Second Missouri cav- 
alry. Dr. Thomas Fields, of Alma, C. T. Ford, and himself are the only 
members of that company now in Lafayette county. He was in the first 
democratic convention, of Freedom township, held after the war, for the 
purpose of appointing a county central committee. He afterwards went 
to Lexington, and engaged in merchandising for several years. Then he 
went to St. Louis, and was engaged in the commission business for two 
years. From there he went to Concordia, and engaged in the grain busi- 
ness; first, in partnership with Dr. J. H. Woolridge, and lastly, with Mr. 
Frerking. In 1873, he came to Aullville, and embarked in the grain busi- 
ness again, where he is at present, handling immense quantities of 
grain. As a soldier he has a clear record, and, as a citizen, is at the 
zenith of popularity with his acquaintances. 

DR. JACOB WELBORN, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Aullville. The subject of this sketch is a 
native of North Carolina; born December 19, 1816. He obtained a com- 
mon school education in that state, at Abbott's Creek School, Davidson 



5S2 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

county. In 1838, he came to this state and county, and located south of 
Aullville, and engaged in farming. He read medicine with Dr. Dobson, 
and in the year 1853, he graduated at the St. Louis Medical University. 
After receiving his diploma, he returned to this county, and entered upon 
the practice of his profession. In 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss 
P. J. Spurgeon, a native of North Carolina. They have had seven chil- 
dren, five of whom are now living: Edward L., Arthur B., Laura J., 
Walter S., and Charles C. His wife died in 1865. He remained quietlv 
at home during the war, attending to his practice. In 1877, he moved to 
Aullville, where he still risides, his time and attention fully occupied with 
a large practice. As a physician, he stands among the leaders in the pro- 
fession ; is progressive in his views, and always ready to seize, with avid- 
ity, upon anything which tends to throw light upon the mysteries of one 
of the most important of sciences — that which deals with human life. 

J. E. SHACKELFIRD, 

drugs and groceries, P. O. Aullville; is a native of Virginia, born Novem- 
ber 19, 1844; was educated in the common schools. At the age of 12 he 
went with his parents to Preble county, Ohio, where he lived until 1869, 
engaged in farming. He then went to Johnson county, Missouri, where 
he lived about eleven years. While here he married Cynthia C. Home, 
a daughter of Judge Home. Their nuptials were celebrated in March, 
1871. They have one child, Jessie J. In the spring of 1881, he moved to 
Aullville and is now engaged in the drug and grocery business, carrying 
a $1,60<> stock of goods; has a good trade. In June, 1881, he harvested 
a crop of wheat irom the " Mock farm," of 90 acres, said to excel in 
quantity and quality any other ever grown in the township, upon the same 
number of acres. Total yield of 1800 bushels. Mrs. Shackelfird is. an 
active and leading member of the Baptist church. Mr. George H. Eck, 
his partner, was born near Frederick City, Maryland, April 13, 1856. At 
an early age his parents brought him to Preble county, Ohio, where he 
lived until January, 1879, when he came to Johnson county, Missouri, and 
lived near Oak Grove, for two years, engaged in farming. In March, 
1881, he moved to this county and settled at Aullville, entering into part- 
nership with Mr. Shackelfird in the drug and grocery business. 

ABNER WARD, 

wheelwright, P. O. Aullville; born in Randolph county, North Carolina, 
July 17, 1823. His early life was spent on a farm, working on the farm 
in the summer season and attending school during the winter. At the age 
of 19 he came to this state and county, and located in the neighborhood of 
Aullville. In 1851, he was married to Miss Margarett Mulkey, a native 
of Lafayette. They have had six children, five of whom are now living: 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 583 

Mary A., Solomon, Nancy E., Emma C. Virginia L. In 1862 he enlisted 
in company F, first regiment, under Gen. Jo. Shelby. Fought in the bat- 
tles of Newtonia, Cape Girardeau, Helena. In the fall of 1863 he came 
home on account of sickness, but not being allowed to stay, he went to 
Illinois and remained there till the close of the war. In 1869, July, when 
the town of Aullville was surveyed, Mr. Ward picked his lot and built a 
dwelling house. In 1872 he built his shop in which he carries on his 
trade. He is an enterprising, industrious business man, and first class 
mechanic. 

BENJ. R. BAMS, 

grain dealer and hardware, P. O. Aullville; is a native of West Virginia, 
born September 3, 1846. Obtained his education in the public schools 
and was raised on a farm. At the age of 25 he came to this state and 
county and shortly after went into the grain business at Aullviile. In 
In 1875, he and his brother James H., went into the hardware business at 
same place. They carry a stock of about $2,000 and are doing a thriv- 
ing business. During the last six months of 1880, they have shipped 
112 cars of wheat and 20 cars of corn, to St. Louis. Mr. Bams is a man 
of business tact and integrity and follows the Golden Rule to the letter. 

ROBERT L. BERRY, 

merchant, postmaster, P. O. Aullville. Born in Macoupin county, Illi- 
nois, September 4, 1841. Raised and educated there. Before the war 
he was engaged in merchandising. In 1862 he enlisted in company A, 
122d Illinois infantry. Fought in the following battle, Parker's Cross 
Roads. In December, 1S63, was honorably discharged on account of dis- 
ability, ensuing from a wound in the right thigh, caused by a shell. In 
April, 1864, he entered a dry goods house in Illinois, and remained in it until 
1868, when he same to this state and county and located upon a farm. He 
farmed until 1878, whe he went into the livery business at Aullville. He 
afterwards engaged in a general merchandising business at the same 
place. He has in stock $3,500 worth of goods and his yearly sales 
amount to $15,000. He also has an interest in a livery stable at Higgins- 
ville. In 1865 he was married to Miss Pauline Keller, a native of 
Waverly, this county. Mr. Berry is also postmaster at Aullville. 

DAVID L. HOFFMAN, 

carpenter, Aullville. Is a native of Tennessee, born October 8, 1842. At 
the age of three years his father moved to Jackson county, Missouri, 
where they livey for three years, and then went to Lexington, this county. 
While living there he attended school, and learned the carpenter's trade of 
his father. & In January, 1862, he enlisted at Sedalia, in company B, 7th 



5S-4 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

regiment of cavalry, Missouri state militia. He fought with this regiment 
two years and eight months. He then re-enlisted in the 13th cavalry, 
company H, Missouri volunteers, under Col. E. C. Catherwood, and was 
mustered out in May, 1866, by special order of the war department. In 
the 7th he was second duty sergeant and appointed provost marshal at Mar- 
shall, Mo. In the 13th he was first sergeant in company H, until November, 
1864,when he was commissioned 2d lieutenant, of company F. Was engaged 
in the battles of Compton Ferry, Svvitzler's Mills, Springfield, Marshall, 
Boonville, Lexington, Independence, Blues, Little Osage, Hartsville, 
Oxford Bend, and numerous others. At Lexington in 1862, he was cap- 
tured by Col. Cockrell's men, but succeeded in making his escape, during 
a severe storm. After the close of the civil war, he was sent west to 
fight Indians, and guard military posts, in Colorado, New Mexico and 
Western Kansas. While there his sufferings from inclement weather were 
extreme. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Kincheloe, 
a native of Kentucky. They have had six children, five now living: 
Myrtle F., Wm. L., Sallie M., Joy L., Edward C. Mr. Hoffman is now 
living at Aullville, following his trade, having six men in his employ. 

ROBERT GRAHAM, 

liquor dealer, P. O. Aullville. Is a native of Belfast, Ireland, born May 
14, 1832. While quite young he emigrated to Nova Scotia, where he 
staid six months, going from thence to Maine, where he remained four 
years. During the time he was in that state he attended night school. 
At the age of seventeen he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he 
lived about three years, attending school the greater part of the time. 
From there he went to Chicago and engaged in the stock business. He 
made Illinois his home until 1851, when a severe attack of the gold fever 
carried him off to California, where he remained three years engaged in 
freighting. Returning to Illinois he occupied his time in buying and ship- 
ping hogs, etc., until the civil war broke out, when he again returned to 
California, where he remained until 1868. He then went to Mexico, where 
he lived for one year engaged in mining, meeting with considerable suc- 
cess. In 1869 he came to Lafayette county, and settled near Aullville, 
turning his attention to farming and coal mining. In 1877 he located in 
Aullville and engaged in the liquor business. April 11, 1877, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Fields. They have two children born to them, 
one now living, named John. Mr. Graham is a member of the Catholic 
church. 

MORDECAI M. COOKE, 

Justice of the Peace, P. O. Aullville. Born in Warren county, Ky., March 
27th, 1817. Was bred on a farm and educated in the common schools of 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 585 

Kentucky. At the age of 17 he embarked in the dry goods business 
at Bowling Green, Ky. At the age of 27 he left Kentucky and came to 
this county, where he lived for 18 months and then went to Johnson 
county and continued in the same occupation for a year and a half, located 
at Columbus. From there he went to Waverly and followed the same 
business for two years. In 1850 Mr. Cooke erected a building and put in 
a stock of goods at a point on the stage line between Georgetown and 
Lexington, about two and one-half miles west of where Concordia now 
stands, which has since been known as Cooke's store. In same year a 
postoffice was established there and Mr. Cooke was appointed postmas- 
ter. After a residence of 17 years at this place, he sold out to Mr. Kane, 
and went to Elmwood, Saline county, from which place he came to this 
county, locating at Aullville, where he now resides, engaged in fulfilling 
the duties of Justice of the Peace for Freedom township, vice James H. 
Bowers, resigned. In 1853 he was married to Mrs. C. Davis, a native of 
North Carolina, and daughter of David Mock. One child was born to 
them; now deceased. 

HAVILAH SMITH, 

blacksmith, P. O. Aullville. Is a native of Fayette county, Ohio; born 
July 23d, 1853. Was raised on a farm and educated in the public schools. 
At the age of 23 he commenced learning his trade in Clinton county, 
which he followed in his native county until he came to Missouri. In 1878 
he led to the marriage altar Miss Susan Patton, a native of Stafford 
county, Virginia. They have one child: Minnie E. In August of 1880 
he started for Missouri, and the 6th of Sept., same year, settled at Aull- 
ville, where he now resides, doing a good business at his trade. Although 
but recently a citizen of this county, Mr. wSmith has already, by his upright 
character and geniality, secured to himself many firm friends, who show 
their appreciation by a liberal patronage. He and his wife are both mem- 
bers of the Friends church. 

JAMES. R. OSBERNE, 

firm of Osberne & Hammond, livery, P.O. Aullville. The subject of this 
sketch is a native of Daviess county, Missouri; born Aug. 16th, 1846. Was 
reared and educated in his native county. At the age of 20 he came to 
Lafayette county, where he remained one year, then returned to Daviess 
county and led to the marriage altar, Miss Margaret Cope, a native of that 
county. After the honeymoon he brought his bride to this county, where 
he had previously prepared a home. One child was born to them, named 
Lalla G. He was bereaved by the death of his wife, who died Feb. 9th, 
1870. In the following year he took a trip to the mountains, hoping by a 
change of scene to assuage his grief in a measure. He remained in Mon- 



580 HISTORY- OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

tana two years, engaged in freighting. He then returned to this county, 
and Nov. 5th, 1873, was married to Miss Bertie Cooksey. By this union 
thev have two children: Claud A. and Daisie M. In the same year of his 
second marriage he purchased a farm consisting of 80 acres of splendid 
land, located one mile northwest of Aullville, which he occupied until Dec. 
17th, 1880. He still owns the farm, which is a model of neatness and 
under a high state of cultivation. During his occupancy, he raised at 
various times from 20 to 23 bushels of wheat and 15 barrels of corn per 
acre. After abandoning his farm he moved to Aullville and engaged in 
the livery business, entering the firm of which he is now a member. His 
partner, Mr. T. D. Hammond, is a gentleman of high character and strict 
integrity, and the two together comprise a firm which is eminently deserv- 
ing of the liberal patronage vouchsafed it by an appreciative community. 
Their receipts are from 8 to 10 dollars per day. 

CHARLES A. GRAHAM, 

blacksmith, Aulrville postoffice. Born in Lexington, Lafayette county 
Sept. 10, 1834. His early education was obtained in that city. Lived on 
a farm until the age of 12. He learned his trade of a man by the name 
of Cruse, living in Henry county, two miles north of Calhoun. He fol- 
lowed his trade for four years in that county. He then went to Lexing- 
ton and worked for a man by the name of John Zeiler, for two years. 
While there he was so unfortunate as to become crippled. He then went 
into the commission business, which he followed until the breaking out of 
the war. In 1S62 he was married to Miss Nannie J. Roberts, a native of 
Johnson county. They have ten children, six sons and four daughters, 
named as follows: Lulu T., Nellie, Roberta, Jessie, Stonewall J., Chas. 
A., Joseph, Selden P., James H. and Frank. In 18G2 he enlisted in Co. 
F, General Gordon's regiment, 1st Missouri volunteer cavalry — served as 
blacksmith. He participated in the battles of Cane Hill, Springfield, 
Hartsville, Prairie Grove and Cape Girardeau. In 1864, as he was acting 
as mail carrier, he was captured near Calhoun by the militia, and held 
prisoner for about two weeks, at Clinton and Sedalia. Was then paroled. 
He then went to Illinois, and locating at Breeze, followed his trade for a 
time. We next find him at St. Louis, where he lived six years, working 
for the Marine Railway and Dock company. From thence he went to 
Johnson count}-, and purchased a farm, which he cultivated for two years, 
situated three miles east of Hazel Hill. He then sold his farm and moved 
to Aullville, where he now resides, engaged at his trade. 

H. H. HENDRICKS, 

harness maker, Aullville postoffice. Born in Adams county, near Quincy, 
Ills., Nov. 25, 1852. Obtained his education at the public schools and at 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 587 

the commercial college at Quincy, in charge of Mussulman and Howe. 
He learned the trade of harness 'making in Perry, Pike county, Ills. Dur- 
ing the years of '71 and '72 he was engaged in farming. For the next 
five years he followed his trade in Streator, Ills. At the expiration of that 
time he came to this county and located at Aullville, working for dif- 
ferent firms, at his trade, among them that of R. L. Berry, whom he 
bought out in 1877, and engaged in business for himself. Since then he 
has built up a good trade, carrying a stock worth $600, and making sales 
to the amount of $275 per month. In 1880 he was married to Miss Mary 
L. Curren, a native of Ohio. Mr. Hendricks is a member of the New 
School Baptist church. 

J. J. COOKSEY, 

trader, Aullville postoffice. Born in Ohio county, Ky., Feb. 2, 1819, where 
he was raised and educated. In 1840 he went to Fredericksburg, Va., and 
engaged in gold mining. Came to this county in 1855. In 1843 he 
was married to Miss W. Smith, a native of Virginia, daughter of 
Marvin Smith. They have four children, as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth 
Nevell, Mrs. A. R. Nevell, Mrs. Dudley B. Atchison and Mrs. Roberta 
Osborne. In 1864 he enlisted in Col. Gordon's regiment, then known as 
"Gen. Shelby's old regiment." Was engaged in the battles of Lexington, 
Blues, Westport, Newtonia and Manas des Cygne. He then went to 
Texas, where he remained till after the surrender. He then came home, 
and was engaged in farming until 1875, when he sold out, and since then 
has been engaged in trading. Mr. Cooksey and his family are all mem- 
bers of the Christian church. 

DR. T. J. WATSON, 

physician and surgeon, postoffice, Aullville. Is a native of New York, 
where he was raised and educated; graduating from the medical depart- 
ment of the University of New York, in 1859. Emigrating to Lafayette 
county, in 1867 he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss A. E. 
Jones, a native of West Virginia. In 1862, he entered into the employ of 
the government, in the capacity of hospital surgeon; located at Springfield. 
In 1863, March 21, he was commissioned surgeon of the 32d infantry, 
Missouri volunteers. From St. Louis, where he was first located, after 
being commissioned, he went to Vicksburg, where he remained until the 
surrender. Was engaged on the fields of Vicksburg, Pearl River, Chatta- 
nooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Atlanta. After 
the surrender of Vicksburg, he was connected with- Sherman's command. 
Was appointed surgeon of brigade, by R. C. Wood, division commander. 
Was mustered out at Louisville, Ky.,July 18, 1865. Returning to Lafay- 
ette county, he located near Aullville, where he now resides, engaged in 



588 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

the practice of his profession. The Dr. is an esteemed citizen, as well as 
a successful practitioner. Ever since his residence in the county, he has 
had a vigilant eye upon its interests, and in various ways, has contributed 
to its welfare. 

J. R. WILEY, 

liquor dealer, postoffice, Aullville. The subject of the following is a native 
of Pettis county, this state; born April 7, 1855. At an early age, he went 
with his parents to Iowa, where he lived for nine years, located in Mills 
county. Attended school while there. In 1866, the family moved to 
Lafayette county, and located on a farm, where J. R. grew to manhood, 
his time employed in a manner customary to that of farmer lads, engaged 
in developing the physical faculties, at farm work, in summer, and the 
mental, at school, in winter. In 1877, he was united in the bonds of mat- 
rimony to Miss Amelia Jackson, of this county. They have one child: 
William S. In 1880, he moved to Aullville and formed a partnership with 
Mr. Graham in the liquor business. The firm is having a lucrative trade. 

G. P. SCHWEITZER, 

shoemaker, postoffice, Aullville. Is a native of this state; born in St. 
Louis, May 9, 1857, where he was reared and educated; attending school 
until 1869. In 1871, he commenced learning the trade of shoemaker, 
which he followed in his native city, until Nov. 4, 1880, when he went to 
Clinton, Henry county, where he remained until Jan. 5, 1881, occupied at 
his trade. He then came to this county, and locating at Aullville, opened 
a shop, where by his courtesy and close attention to the wants of his cus- 
tomers, he has succeeded in establishing himself in a lucrative business. 
His receipts amout to $2000 per year. In Feb. 1881, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Lizzie Deganhardt, a native of Alton, Ills. The nup- 
tials were celebrated at Jerseyville, Ills. Mr. Schweitzer and wife are 
both active and consistent members of the Catholic church. 

B. E. NEVILLE, 

postoffice, Aullville. Was born in Warren county, Va., June 4, 1837, 
where he was raised and educated. From the age of 15 to 21, he was 
engaged at the blacksmith's trade. Upon arriving at the latter age, he 
came west, to this county, and engaged in farm work. In 1863, while 
living in Saline county, (having moved there a short time previously), he 
enlisted in company D, Gen. Marmaduke's body-guard. He fought in 
the following engagements, in all of which he conducted himself in a man- 
ner becoming a soldier and a gentleman: Prairie de Ann, Jenkins' Ferry, 
Lake Village, one near Jefferson City, Marias de Cygne, being but a few 
feet from Gen. Marmaduke, when he was captured at the latter place. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 589 

He surrendered at Shreveport and returned to Saline county, where he 
remained only a few months, and then came to the neighborhood of Aull- 
ville, this county. He now resides in Aullville. Mr. Neville is a genial, 
whole-souled gentleman, possessing the confidence of all who know him. 

WM. H. PERDUE, 

farmer; P. O. Aullville, the sixth son of Henry Perdue, and his second 
wife, is a native of Clark county, Indiana; born August 3, 18-41. Obtained 
his education, principally, in that state, where he lived until the age of 15, 
when he came with his parents to Lafayette .county, and settled upon the 
farm upon which he is now living. After arriving in this county he 
attended school for one year, which finished his school days, and after 
which he became engaged in active life. His farm consists of 137 acres 
of excellent land. Is giving some attention to stock raising. In 1868 he 
was married to Miss Lucinda J. Rutherford, a native of this county. They 
have five children living: Minnie E., John H., Jacob W., James O., and 
Pelina C. Mr. P. was at home at the time of the death of his father, who 
was killed by the bushwhackers during the early part of the war. In 
October, 1862, he enlisted in Capt Taggart's company, Col. Henry Neill's 
regiment, E. M. M. He remained in that service about one month and 
then returned home, where he remained until August of 1864, when he 
enlisted as private in the 45th infantry, Missouri volunteers, company D. 
Was engaged in the battle of Jefferson City. In 1863 he was tnken pris- 
oner by Dave Poole's bushwhackers and held for a half hour and then 
released, after being deprived of his horse. He was discharged from the 
service in 1865, and returned to his home with a good record. 

OSCAR V. PERDUE, 

farmer, P. P. Aullville, first son of Henry Perdue and his first wife; was 
born in Clarke county, Indiana, in 1825, June 24. Was raised on a farm 
and educated in the common schools of his native county. At the age of 
19 he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained engaged in learn- 
ing the carpenter trade, until 1855, when he came to Pettis county, Mis- 
souri, and worked with Mr. W. H. Field until 1856, and then came to 
Lafayette county, where he has been engaged in farming ever since, 
except while the civil war was in progress. In 1868 he was married to 
Miss Sarah E. Whitworth, a native of Lafayette county. By this union 
they have four children: Mary Ann, Margarette L., Edwin V.. and Sarah 
E. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Taggart's company, Col. Neill's regi- 
ment, E. M. M., in which he remained six months, holding the office of 
1st sergeant. In 1863 he was called out again under Capt. Sumner. In 
August, 1864, he re-enlisted as corporal of company D., 45th Missouri 

Y 



590 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

volunteer infantry. In 1865 he was honorably discharged and came home. 
He is now engaged in cultivating a fine farm of 148 acres, which presents 
an appearance which suggests the thought that a master hand was at the 
helm. 

W. BOON MAJOR, 

farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Aullville; was born in Franklin county, 
Kentucky, December 19, 1825. He was raised on a farm and partially 
educated in his native county — completing his education in the high school 
of Frankfort, Kentucky. When the Mexican war broke out he enlisted 
on the 8th of May, 1846, in Capt. Thomas F. Marshall's company, 1st 
Kentucky cavalry, under Gen. Taylor. Fought in the battle of Buena 
Vista — his company having the honor of firing the first guns in that 
engagement. His company originally consisted of 110 men, but when 
they were mustered out at the end of twelve months, they numbered only 
33. After the war he went back to Kentucky, and in August, 1847, he 
came to Lafayette county, landing at Lexington. In the following year 
his father, Joseph M., bought 560 acres of land in this county, for $6.50 per 
acre; a portion of which Boon now owns. November 12, 1849, he was 
united in marriage to Prudence Worder, a native of Lafayette. Shortly 
afterwards he engaged in the mercantile business at Wellington, where 
he sold goods until 1858. The following year he took a trip across the 
plains, remaining 9 months in the mountains, engaged in superintending 
some business operations for Russell Major and Mr. Waddell. Returning 
from this trip, he engaged in farming a short distance north of where he 
now resides. Mr. Major is the father of six children, all living: John D., 
Joseph R., Alfred H., William M., Kitty J., and Ida M. In June. 1861, he 
enlisted in the M. S. G., company G., Col. B. Elliott's regiment, in which 
service he remained six months. He held the rank of 1st lieutenant, and 
assisted in organizing the company. In the spring of 1862 he re-enlisted 
in the regular confederate service — company I, Shelby's regiment. Was 
orderly sergeant of his company. In 1863 he was commissioned quarter- 
master of the regiment commanded by Col. Elliott. He was engaged in 
the following battles: Coon Creek, Newtonia, Hartsville, Springfield, 
Pine Bluffs, Jin kens' Ferry, Prairie de Ann, Duval's Bluff, Clarendon, 
Helena, Cape Girardeau, first at Lexington, Jefferson City, Boonville, 
Potosi, Ironton, Pilot Knob, Chalk Bluff', Marshall, Sedalia, Independence, 
Blues, Westport, Little Osage, and several minor engagements too numer- 
ous to mention. He surrendered personally, at Austin, to Gen. Merritt. 
He is now engaged in farming and stock raising — owning a fine farm of 
242 acres. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 591 

JOSEPH L. YOUNGS, JR., 

farmer, P. O. Aullville. The third child of Joseph L. Youngs, Sr., was 
born in Newark N. J., December 2, 1835. He was only six years of age 
when he came to Lafayette county with his parents. They first settled 
on the farm upon which Joseph Jr. now resides. Here he obtained his 
•education in the common schools. In August 1861, he enlisted in the 
federal army, company K , 14th Missouri, under Col. White. Held the 
office of second lieutenant. Was engaged in the battle of Lexington with 
Mulligan, with whom he surrendered and remained a prisoner until Nov. 
when he was paroled. Upon being released, he went to Miss., and then 
to Kansas, where he was captain of a company of militia from Shawnee 
( county, for a period of three months. He was engaged in the following 
battles: Mine Creek, Newtonia, Blues, Westport, Independence. In 
1866, he returned to Lafayette county, where he has since lived. March 
4, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Lavina Stahl, a native of Ohio. 
They have five children, viz: Francis E., Elmer E., Lillian, Joy and 
Arthurleana. Mr. Youngs is now engaged in farming; occupying a por- 
tion of his farm of 240 acres, renting what he does not cultivate himself. 
During the season from October '80 to June '81, $8,000 worth of produce 
and stock was sold from it. When quite young, he recollects of there 
being an Indian trail extending across what is now a portion of his farm, 
and also remembers of seeing Indians passing along on their hunting 
expeditions. He also remembers when the elms in his door yard were 
set out, and that the seed from which the walnuts were grown, was 
planted 33 years ago. His father had the only blacksmith shop in that 
neighborhood, located upon his farm. He also helped build the first rail- 
road cars that were built in the United States. Mr. Youngs is a man 
who commands the respect of all with whom he has dealing. 

JOSEPH L. YOUNGS, SR., 

deceased, was a native of N. J. Born March 5, 1804. His grandfather, 
Joseph, was a native of England, and was pressed into the English service 
as a seaman. While his vessel was anchored ofl Long Island, he jumped 
overboard, swam ashore and thus escaped. Such was the origin of the 
Youngs family in the United States. The subject of this sketch was 
raised and educated in Essex county, N. J., and early in life commenced 
learning the trade of wheelwright, which he followed until he came to 
Lafayette county. He was first married to Miss Lydia Rodgers, a native 
of N. J. Thev became parents of ten children, six of whom are now liv- 
ing, viz: Edgar, Joseph L. Jr., Isabella B., (married Charles Hager), 
David, Delia A., (Mrs. Cramer,) and Grover. His first wife died Dec. 
17, 1861, and was finally buried at Oak Grove. He was afterwards 
married to a Mrs. Amelia Ham. In 1837, he left N. J. and moved to St. 



592 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Louis, where he lived about three years engaged at his trade. In 1842, 
he came to Lafayette count}' and entered some land, which he improved. 
In 1849, he went to California, where he remained until 1851, engaged in 
merchandising. Returning to this county he lived here until '55, when 
he went to Kansas. In 1867, he sold out there and again came back to 
Lafayette county. The sale of his property in Kansas proving futile, 
however, he was obliged to return and take possession. He died Nov. 
18, 1877, and was buried at Oak Grove, beside his first wife. He was 
one of the early settlers of Lafayette county, honored and respected by all 
who knew him. 

WM. F. McCLURE, 

farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Aullville, is a native of Fountain county, 
Indiana, born Nov. 24, 1847. When quite young, he went with his par- 
ents to Mercer county, Ills., where he was raised and educated, attending 
the Cameron and other high schools of that county. In 1866, he came 
to Lafayette county with his parents, who settled on the place familiarly 
known as the "Anderson Warren farm," where he lived until the spring 
of 1881. In 1868, he was united in marriage to a Miss Wilborn, a native 
of Indiana, and daughter of James Wilborn. By this union they have six 
children, viz: Fred. W., James S., Mary E., Belle, Eliza and Jessie. In 
the spring of 1881, he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, 
consisting of 240 acres of fine farming land, well adapted to stockraising; 
situated a short distance southeast of Aullville. Has 1000 acres of well 
set grass land and plenty of good water; also a fine orchard and vineyard 
containing many varieties of fruit. He is a member of the O. S. Presby- 
terian church, and stands in high repute among his acquaintances. Has 
served one term as school director of his district, and is quite active in 
promoting popular education. 

JAMES OLER, 

farm superintendent, P. O. Aullville. Is a native of Bedford county, Pa. 
Born April 2, 1842. His early life was passed upon a farm. Educated 
in the common schools of the county. At the age of 29, he came to Jack- 
son county, Mo., and engaged in farm work for Nichol & Bro., with 
whom he remained four years. He then branched out for himself, and 
cultivated a farm for two years, upon his own responsibility. While in 
Pa., he was married to Miss Louisa Klahre, a native of Germany. They 
have five children, viz: Caroline E., Charles W., Elmer S., Mary A., 
Sedora M. In 1879, he came to this county and engaged in superintend- 
ing a farm, owned by Nichol & Bro., with whom he had previously been 
associated. This farm is situated near Aullville, and contains 452 acres 
of excellent land, which presents an appearance of careful and intelligent 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 593 

supervision. During the year 18S0, $4,000 worth of produce and cattle 
were sold. 

JOHN W. BROWN, 

farmer, P. O. Aullville. Was born in Logan County, Ky., February 3, 
1828. In 1829 his parents came with him to Lafayette county, where 
they lived three years and then went to Johnson county, where the sub- 
ject of this sketch lived until 1866. He was raised on a farm and educated 
in the typical school of " our fathers " — split logs for benches, and mother 
earth for a floor. In 1845 he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Cor- 
nett, by which union' they have eight children, seven now living, viz.: 
Amanda, Sarah E., Minerva E., William B., James R., Mollie D., John 
Edward. Armilda F., the eldest, deceased. In 1866 he moved to Lafay-^ 
ette county and settled on the farm, now owned by Boon Major, in Free- 
dom township, where he lived until March, 1881, when he removed to the 
farm, where he now resides, consisting of 480 acres of excellent land, for- 
merly known as the "Anderson Warren " farm; 300 acres of this had been 
in flax previous to the war. On the south end he can plough a furrow 
one mile in length without meeting any obstruction. On the north part of 
it there is a vein of coal, 18 inches in thickness, which can be worked with 
very little trouble and expense. Six living springs may be found con- 
veniently located. Within the past year Mr. Brown has placed several 
improvements, in the shape of buildings, upon his farm, among them being 
a frame dwelling house costing $2,000, and a barn, 40x60, costing $500. 
In 1862 he enlisted in the confederate army, Company " F," 1st Missouri 
Cavalry, under Gen. Marmaduke. He was engaged in the battles of 
Newtonia, Cane Hill, Springfield, Hartsville, Prairie Grove, and Cape 
Girardeau. At Prairie Grove he was wounded in the left shoulder by a 
canister shot, which disabled him; notwithstanding which, he still kept 
with his company until late in 1863, when he was given an unlimited fur- 
lough on account of his disability. He was one of Marmaduke's " Blind 
Pickets," and reported to that general personally. Upon receiving his 
furlough he went to Texas, wh^re he remained one and a half months, and 
then went to Green county, Ills., where he remained until 1865, when he 
returned home. Mr. B. has a fine record as a soldier, and a gentleman 
possessing the confidence of all of his acquaintances. 

ELLIS C.JONES, 

deceased. Was born in Brooke count}-, Va., March 20, 1808, where he 
was reared and educated. Lived on a farm. In 1830 he was united in 
marriage to Miss Hettie C. Boyd, a native of Washington county, Pa. 
Her grandfather, Boyd, living in Pennsylvania in about 1754, with three 
other children, was taken captive by the Indians who murdered his mother 



594 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

and burned their dwelling. He remained a captive three and a halt years. 
Her father, John Boyd, was a veteran of 1812. Ellis C. and wife became 
parents of eight children, three now deceased, and five living, viz.: John 
B., Rebecca, Asenath, Caleb J. W., and George R. In I860 he brought 
his family to Lafayette count)', and settled upon a farm. He died in 1861 
and was buried at Oakland Church grave yard. He was a member of 
the M. E. church. Mrs. Jones is now living on a farm of 400 acres of 
excellent land, on which there is a good substantial dwelling, where she 
and her son John are engaged in its management. Her experience dur- 
ing the war was varied and trying in the extreme, her husband being dead 
and her sons away, she was obliged to manage affairs and protect herself 
and daughters as best she could. She, however, proved herself equal to 
the emergency, and took hold of the helm and steered their bark with 
safety through those troublous times. 

C. H. UPHAUSE. 

Mr. Uphause, is a native of Prussia, born July 24, 1824; was raised 
there and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-three 
he came to the United States, landing at Galveston, Texas. After remain- 
ing there a short time he went to New Orleans, and from there to St. 
Louis, where he remained two and a half years. In 1850 he went to Cali- 
fornia with the intention of mining, but meeting with poor success, he 
abandoned the business and went to Sacramento and engaged in the 
occupation of hauling water, for nine months, making considerable money. 
In 1851 he left the Pacific coast and came to Lafayette county, Missouri, 
where he purchased land and settled down to the occupation of farming. 
He was united in mairiage in 1851 to Miss Margaret Esselmann, a 
native of Prussia. They have had nine children, seven of whom are now liv- 
ing, viz: Martin, John, Mary, Matilda, Sarah, Caroline and Lena. Mr. 
Uphause has resided in Lafayette county continuously since 1851, engaged 
in farming, in which he has been quite successful. He now owns 750 
acres of excellent land in different parts of the county. His home farm, 
situated between Concordia and Aullville, consists of 380 acres, and is 
well improved. In 1880 he harvested 1,400 bushels of wheat from 70- 
acres. He and his wife are members of the M. E. church of Concordia. 
In 1862 Mr. Uphause enlisted in the federal fervice, E. M. M., seventy- 
first regiment, Capt. Taggart's company. Was not engaged in any bat- 
tles. His postoffice address is Concordia. 

F. W. TAGGART. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of North Carolina, born January 
27, 1810, where he was reared and educated at a subscription school. 
His early life was passed on a farm. In 1833, he was united in marriage 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 595 

to Miss Christina Toakley, also a natiueof North Carolina. Ten children 
were born to them, six of whom are now living, four sons and two daugh- 
ters, viz: Jessie R., F. W. M, John A., H. C, Tiriffa C, and Mary C. In 
1845 he came to Lafayette county, Missouri, and purchased the farm upon 
which he now resides, consisting of 166 acres of excellent land, for which 
he paid five dollars per acre. Mr. Taggart is one of the early settlers of 
the county and has been closely identified with its interests since locating 
here. Is energetic and enterprising, and by watchfulness and economy 
has secured for himself and family a pleasant and comfortable home. 
Postoflice, Concordia. 

WILLIAM ROWE. 

Mr. Rowe is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, born June 3, 1808, 
where his early life was passed, engaged in farming and acquiring an 
education. Was married, the first time, to Miss Amelia Holt, daughter 
of Major Thomas Holt, of revolutionary fame, and a native of Virginia. 
She died December 23, 1863. Mr. Rowe came to Lafayette county in 
1843. He afterwards went into Johnson county, where he remained but 
a short time and then returned to Lexington and carried on an agricultu- 
ral shop until 1860. In about 1866 he was again married to Mrs. L. J. 
Sparlbrd, a native of North Carolina. Since 1867 Mr. R. has been a resi- 
dent of the southern part of the county, engaged in cultivating a farm of 
58 acres, which he owns. In 1S61 he enlisted as private in Captain 
Joseph Barnett's company, under Colonel Vard Cockrell; confederate 
service: While with this command he was engaged in the battle of Lex- 
ington. He was with Gen. Price on his raid through the state. Was not 
attached to any particular command, but joined Gen. Shelby's brigade of 
his own accord. Participated in the battles of Independence, Blues, West- 
port and Newtonia. He surrendered personally, at Houston, Texas, in 
1865, and came home, acting as escort to Mrs. Colonel Slayback, who had 
been placed under his protection. Postoflice address, Concordia. 

LEWIS S. STOUT. 

Mr. Stout is a native of Davidson county, North Carolina, where he 
lived until eighteen years of age, acquiring an education in the meantime. 
Was born March 22, 1835,. and came to Lafayette county at the age 
before stated. In 1862 he enlisted in company B, 7th regiment of cavalry, 
Missouri state militia. Was blacksmith for the company. He served 
three years and was mustered out at St. Louis, in 1865. In 1861 he laid 
in the hospital for two months, suffering from the effects of poisonous vac- 
cine. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Yokley, a 
native of North Carolina. She died in March, 1872, leaving three chil 
dren, two girls and a boy.: Mary A., Nancy and John A. Mr. Stout is 



596 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

now engaged in farming, owning 80 acres of excellent land, which he has 
brought to a high state of cultivation. Postoffice address, Concordia. 

WILLIAM B. TAGGART. 

Mr. Taggart was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, October 13, 1846. 
Was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1865 just 
before the war closed, he enrolled in the State militia, but was never 
sworn into service. In 1879 he purchased the farm upon which he 
now resides, consisting of fifty-five acres of very productive and well 
improved land. In 1880 he raised eighteen bushels of wheat and thirty- 
five bushels of corn to the acre. His farm is well watered and contains a 
fine orchard. Mr. Taggart is an excellent business man and enjoys 
the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. His postoffice address is 
Concordia. 

WILLIAM HILLANS. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, born October 23, 
1846. Was reared and educated there, obtaining his education in the 
common schools. At the age of twenty-two years, he came to the 
United States, landing at New Urleans, where he remained for five and 
a half years. While there he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget 
Welsh. Five children have been born to them, two of whom are now 
living: Mary and Lizzie. Upon leaving New Orleans, Mr. Hillans 
came to Lafayette county, and located a short distance southwest of Concor- 
dia, where he lived two years. He then went to Johnson county and 
lived ten years in the northeastern part, after which he returned to this 
county, and purchased the farm upon which he now resides, situated five 
miles southwest of Concordia. His farm consists of 160 acres of well 
improved land. Mr. Hillans is a member of the Presbyterian church and 
Mrs. Hillans of the Catholic church. Postoffice, Concordia. 

JOHN BUTTNER, 

deceased. Mr. Buttner was born in Forsyth county, North Carolina, April 
22, 1831, where he was raised and educated. At the age of twenty-one 
he came to Lafayette county and engaged in farming. In 1856, April 10, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth* F. Ray, a native of Lafay- 
ette county. Seven children were born to them, five now living, viz: 
Wm. D., Minnie L., John H., Mary E. and Cora A. In 1801 he enlisted 
in the confederate service, under Gen. Shelby. Participated in the battles 
of Lone Jack, Independence, Blues, Westport, Newtonia, Pine Bluff and 
numerous others. June 15, 1865, he took the oath at Shreveport and 
came home and re-engaged in farming. Mr. Buttner died July 20, 1879, 
and was buried at the Ebenezer cemetery. Mrs. Buttner is still residing 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 597 

on the home place, situated six miles southeast of Aullville. Her post- 
office address is Concordia. 

EDWARD H. SMITH. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, 
born June 2, 1830. Was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. In 1S54 he married Miss Nancy H. Bradley, a native of Ken- 
tucky. They have^had nine children, six now living, three sons and three 
daughters, viz.: Martha J., John W., Susan M., Mary L., Benjamin H., 
and Elias E. In 1847 heenlisted for service in the Mexican war, in Capt. 
J. W. Brannan's company, under Zack. Taylor. Served sixteen months as 
a private. In 1854 he came to Lafayette county, and located in Lexington, 
where he lived six years. He then went to Freedom township, where he 
has since resided. During the civil war, he was appointed a sharp-shooter 
at the battle of Lexington, under Gen. Price. Was not regularly sworn 
into the army. When Major Grover was ordered to Lexington to rescue 
Cols. White and Grover, he took fifty-four prisoners, all citizens, six of 
whom were negroes. Not a soldier was among the lot, of whom Mr. 
Smith was one. They were marched from Lexington to the fair grounds 
and were there released. Mr. Smith's postoffice address is Aullville. 

HARMAN BRAND, 

is a native of Germany, born January 23, 1841, where he lived until seven 
or eight years of age, when he came with his parents to the United States 
and located in Lafayette county, where he has since resided. He com- 
pleted his education there. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Minnie 
Harwold, a native of Germany. Seven children were born to them, four 
now living, viz.: Ernest, Edward, Samuel and Daniel. In 1878 he pur- 
chased the farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 440 acres of 
excellent land. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising. During the 
season of 1880 he raised 5,000 bushels of wheat on 220 acres, and forty 
bushels of corn per acre. In 1861 he enlisted in the Home Guards— Cap- 
tain Baker's company — under General Mulligan. Was engaged in the 
battle of Lexington. After the surrender of the city he was paroled and 
allowed to return home. When Mr. Brand came to this county he had 
nothing but good health and energy, with a will to do something for him- 
self and family. By industry and economy he has become possessed of a 
splendid farm, well stocked with all the necessary apparatus for its culti- 
vation. He formerly owned the land upon which a portion of the town of 
Higginsville is located. He sold it to Messrs. A. E. Asbury, Harvey 
Higgins and Capt. Hugh Smith. Mr. B. and wife are members of 
the Baptist church of Higginsville. Postoffice, Aullville. 



598 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

HENRY KOPPENBRINK. 

Mr. K. was born in Germany, November 27, 1S45, and when nine years 
of age came to the United States with his parents. His early education 
was obtained in his native country. After arriving in the United States 
he again attended school in Johnson and Lafayette counties — completing 
his education. In 1870 he left Lafayette county (to which he came imme- 
diately after landing) and went to Johnson count) 7 , where he lived five 
years engaged in farming. He then returned to Lafayette county and 
engaged in the hardware business with Mr. Thieman, at Concordia, where 
he remained three years, and then returned to his farm in Johnson county. 
In August, 1881, he came back to Concordia and in partnership with his 
brother John, purchased the livery stable of Meyer & Co., and has since 
been engaged in the livery business. In 1S69 he was married to Miss 
Dina Stunkle, by whom he has had five children, three now living, viz.: 
Elenora, Albert and Edward. 

JOHN H. WALKENHORST. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Lafayette county, born April 
24, 1848. Was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. 
Was married to Miss Amelia Stoll, a native of Germany, in 1873. They 
have three children, viz.: Julius W.,John M. and Horace W. Mr. W. is 
now engaged in farming, owning seventy acres, situated two miles south- 
west of Concordia. Is paying considerable attention to stock-raising, 
particularly swine, of the Poland China breed. In 1880 he raised 700 
bushels of wheat on thirty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Walkenhorst are mem- 
bers of the M. E. church of Concordia. Postoffice address is Concordia. 

REV. C. SCHOEMAKER. 

The subject of the following sketch, pastor of the German Baptist 
church of Concordia, is a native of Holland, born in 1818. Was raised 
and educated there. In 1846 he crossed the Atlantic and came directly to 
St. Louis, where he lived six years and where he obtained his theological 
education. He preached four years in St. Louis, during which time he 
assisted his congregation in their project of building a church. He then 
went to Buffalo, New York, and occupied the pulpit of the German Bap- 
tist church there for nine years. From there he went to Muscatine, Iowa, 
where he remained eleven years; at the close of which period he came to 
Lafayette county and settled near Concordia, where he now resides. He 
has been married three times — the last time in Iowa, to Miss Dora Nyen- 
house, a native of Holland. Seven children were born to them — six sons 
and one daughter, all living. He has two children by his second wife. 
Postoffice, Concordia. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. o99 

AUGUST BROCKMANN. 

Tust forty-one years ago, in 1840, while the parents of the subject of 
this sketch were coming from Germany to the United States, Mr. Brock- 
minn was born in the vessel in which they sailed. They landed at New 
Orleans, and then came to Lafayette county, stopping for a short time in 
St Louis Thev arrived in this county in the spring of '41. August 
obtained his education in the German and English schools of this county; 
was raised on a farm. In' 1863 he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia 
Oetling, a native of Lafayette county, Missouri. Seven children were 
born to them, five of whom are now living, three daughters and two sons: 
Anna, Martha, Emelia, August and Fritz. In 1868 he purchased the 
farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 140 acres, situated three 
and a half miles south of Concordia. In 1880 he harvested 1,500 bushels 
of wheat from fiitv-five acres. Mr. B. and wife are. members of the 
Lutheran Church of Concordia. During the late war he en listed in the 
enrolled militia, Capt. Brum's company, D, under Col. Neill; was third 
corporal; was engaged in the fight with the bushwhackers. He was 
only two months in active service, the remainder of the time (two months) 
lying sick with the typhoid fever. Post-office, Concordia. 

JOHN HOLTCAMP. 

The subject of the following sketch is a native of Prussia, ^many, 
born March 2d, 1832, where he obtained his early education. In 1844 he 
came to the United States with his father, Casper Holtcamp, landing at 
New Orleans and going directly to St Louis, where they remained «x 
months and then came to Lafayette county, where his father entered land 
near Concordia. They were the first emigrants from **™£^ 
ted in this countv John lived with his father two y ea ™ a " d ; h ^ t tt a ™ 
out to paddle his own canoe." In 1850 he was attacked by the gold 
fever" which carried him off to California, where he remained until 1*56, 
engaged in mining, meeting with a moderate degree of success and 
burning with abolt $1,700, with which he purchased a -m a short dis- 
tance south of Concordia, on the edge of Johnson county In 1858 he 
^united in marriage to Miss *^*^^*£r££ 
children were born to them, eight now living: Henry John, Joseph 

h Will t; ass. -» « " ^nxs 

CTiS^.^ *» St of Anllvil,. whe, he is 
still residing, giving considerable attent.on to stock -»»** 1|»* 
enlisted in the enrolled Missouri milit.a, of Johnson coun y <*£ J°£ " 
company 40th regiment, serving eight months. H,s father d.ed.n 1873, 
a°7e "danced age of seventy-two years, and was buned m the Repubh- 
cln church graveyard. Mr. Holtcamp's post-office address . Anllv.lle. 



#00 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ROBERT T. LITTLEJOHN, 

deceased. The subject of the following sketch, one of the pioneer set- 
tlers of Lafayette county, was born in Mason county, Kentucky, October 
8, 1812, and died November 10, 1877. Was raised and educated in his 
native county, where he also learned the blacksmith's trade. About the 
year 1830 he came to Lafayette county and entered the employ of Mr. 
Jack Waddell, in which he remained until 1842, engaged first as overseer, 
afterwards as miller, for five years, and subsequently in the capacity of 
blacksmith. November 12, of same year, he married Miss Martha Payne, 
a native of Woodford county, Ky., and daughter of Thomas Payne, who 
moved to Lafayette county in 1841. Fifteen children were born to them, 
thirteen of whom are now living, three sons and ten dnughters: Mrs. 
Nancy Roberts, Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes, Mrs. Caroline Clary, Mrs. James 
Willis, Mrs; Georgia A. Wilborn, Julia, Ida, Jenny, Maggie, Mattie, Wil- 
liam H., Thomas and Augustus. In 1844 he purchased a farm of 500 
acres, situated twenty-two miles south of Lexington, where he resided 
until his death. 

CHARLES B. DOUGLASS, 

deceased. The subject of the following sketch was born in Philadelphia, 
June 3, 1809. At the age of seventeen he went to Kentucky, where he 
lived until 1843. While in Kentucky he was married to Miss Rebecca 
Rawlings, a native of Fleming county, Kentucky. Eight children were 
born to them: William, Jonathan, Henry, Thomas, Charles, Nancy, 
Eliza and Sarah. In 1843 the family moved to Missouri, Johnson county, 
near Columbus, where they lived two years, and then removed to near 
Basin Knob, and afterwards to Oak Grove, living three years at each 
place. Then coming to Lafayette county, they lived here five years, and 
then returned to Johnson county where they remained until 1866. Sep- 
tember 1, 1863, a company of the seventh Missouri cavalry and one of 
the eleventh Kansas cavalry came 'to Mr. Douglass' house and took him 
away to Davis' creek bottom, in Lafayette county, and there shot him 
together with Dr. William Dobson, and left the bodies lying in the grass, 
which was as tall as a grown person. On the afternoon of the following 
day a company of forty men, among whom were Thomas Douglass, 
Stout Burton and Daniel Dobson, started in search of the missing. They 
found the bodies after some search, and buried them at Oak Grove Cem- 
etery. Mr. Douglass, politically, was a constitutional Union man, but 
took no active part in the war. He had three sons, however, in the con- 
federate army. Neither Mr. D. nor his family ever knew why he was 
thus taken away and shot. There was but one wound on his body and 
that was directly through the heart. Mrs. Douglass and one son are now 
living about three miles south of Aullville, engaged in farming. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 601 

JESSE HARGRAVE. 

Mr. Hargrave is a native of Guilford county, North Carolina; born June 
24, 1827. Obtained his earl}- education there and at the age of twelve came 
to Lafayette county with his parents. Completed his education at Browns- 
ville " Sweet Springs College, " Dr. Lapsley Yantis, president. In April, 
1867, he married Miss M. E. Patrick, a native of this county, and daugh- 
ter of James J. Patrick. Five children were born to them, four of whom 
are now living, viz: Horace M., Anselm J., Ida M. and Almeda A. His 
father Anselm Hargrave, bought a farm near were Concordia now stands, 
where Jesse lived until 1862, when he went west, traveling through Wash- 
ington territory, Idaho territory and Oregon, where he remained until 
1866, when he returned, and in 1868 bought the farm where he now resides, 
consisting of 160 acres, situated six miles south of Aullville. In 1880 he 
raised 900 bushels of wheat on forty acres and forty-five bushels of corn 
per acre. Mr. H. and his father were among the early pioneers of that 
part of the county. Game, such as deer, wild turkeys, etc., was plenty. 
At that time their milling was done at Dover and their trading at Lex- 
ington and Boonville — taking their swine to the latter place. Wheat was 
hauled from where Concordia now is to Lexington and sold for twenty- 
five cents a bushel. Post office, Aullville. 

W. K. SAUNDERS. 

The subject of the following is a native of Davidson count}', North 
Carolina; born Nov. 16, 1833. There he was raised and educated, attend- 
ing the common schools, Was raised on a farm. At the age of twenty- 
three he came to Lafayette county and settled on the place known as the 
Franklin Mock farm, where he has since resided. He was married Sept. 6, 
1857 to Miss Lydia R. Field, a native of North Carolina. They have had 
four children, three of them now living, as follows: Emma J., Frances A. 
and William L. Aug. 16, 1862, he enlisted as fourth sergeant in Company 
C, Seventy-first E. M. M. He participated in the Wellington fight with 
the bushwhackers. Was color-bearer and at the time the enemy 
charged, he was in the stable getting feed for his horse and had left the 
flag on the outside, which was captured, he, however, succeeded in mak- 
ing his escape to Lexington. In this engagement there were about sixty 
Federals and about 160 bushwhackers. He was discharged in December 
of 1862, but was called out once or twice afterwards. In August, 1864' 
he re-enlisted in the 100-days service under Col. Rout; but on arriving at 
St Joe, finding his comp iny with sixty-five more men than its quota, he 
was sent home. Post office address, Aullville. 



602 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

URIAH FARRELL. 

Mr. Farrell was born in Lincoln county, Ky., June 23, 1834, and at the 
age of five years came to Missouri with his parents, stopping one year 
in Saline countv, and then moving into the southeastern part of Lafayette 
county, where Uriah was educated— attending the public schools. In 1857 
he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Word, a native of North Caro- 
lina. Nine children were born to them, seven now living, viz: Emma F., 
Minnie L., Bernetta M., Harry A., William A., Charles and John C. In 
1858 he purchased the farm where he now resides, consisting of 100 acres. 
Is engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fed- 
eral service — Capt. Taggart's company, Seventy-first Enrolled Missouri 
Militia — in which he remained five months. In 1S51 his father William 
Farrell, and his (Uriah) oldest brother, Lapsley, went to California with 
the gold fever. They both died within three months after arriving and 
were buried there. Mr. Farrell's Post office address is Aullville. 

ROBERT S. SITTINGTON. 

The subject of the following sketch is a native of Highland county, Va.; 
born February 25, 1848. He there obtained his early education and at 
the age of eleven years came to Pettis county, Missouri, where he 
completed it. In 1865 he came to Lafayette county, and in 18J0 pur- 
chased the farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 160 acres of 
excellent land. Is engaged in farming and stock-raising. During the 
season of 1880 he raised 1,000 bushels of wheat of fine quality on fifty 
acres, and in 1881 — when the wheat crop was comparatively a failure— he 
raised 750 bushels of No. 2 wheat on 48 acres. In December of 1870, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Handley, daughter of Joseph 
Handley, a native of Lafayette county. They have had two children, one 
now living, Emma J., the other dying when quite young. Mr. Sittington 
is one of the substantial business men of the county and one who looks 
after the interests of the public with a watchful eye. 

B. WHITWORTH. 

The subject of the following sketch — probably the oldest settler of 
Lafayette county now living — was born in Guilford county, North Caro- 
lina, July 7, 1819. Was educated at a subscription school. At the age 
of eighteen, he and his mother, brother and two sisters, came to Missouri, 
and located in Freedom township, where Mr. W. worked five years for 
Dr. Davis, in the Davis Mill, near what is now known as Kirkpatrick's Mill 
— attending school a portion of the time. He afterwards rented the mill, 
which he operated for two years. In 1844, he entered the farm upon 
which he now resides, where he lived three years, and then went to Lex- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 603 

ington, and operated a mill for nearly a year, and then returned to his 
farm, where he has since resided. Owns 108 acres. He was first mar- 
ried, February 2, 1843, to Miss Margaret J. Mock, daughter of David 
Mock, Sr., and a native of North Carolina. They had three children, of 
whom two are now living, viz: Margaret J. Perdue, and Mary A. 
Webb. His first wife died July 23, 1850, being killed by lightning, and 
was buried at Freedom Chapel graveyard. August 19, 1852, he was 
again united in marriage, to Miss Phoebe Farrell, a native of Kentucky. 
They have eight children, viz: Thomas A., William R., George W., 
Charles, Bevill W., Margaret J., Clara M., and Annie. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in the federal service — Capt. Taggart's company, Seventy-first 
regiment, E. M. M. f in which he served three months, and was then 
honorably discharged. In 1843, the county court appointed him an over- 
seer, to open and put in order the Lexington and Knob Noster road, run- 
ning from Merritt's ford, on Davis creek, to a point on the Johnson county 
line, near John Scott's, which appointment he filled in a creditable manner. 
In 1844, he was appointed deputy constable of his township, and was 
afterwards appointed by the magistrates, to fill a vancancy caused by the 
resignation of Alexander Wilborn. Mr. W, has long been a resident of 
this county, and to him its present state of progress is due, to a great 
extent. Post-office, Aullville. 

EDWARD H. HANDLY. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of this state and Lafayette 
county; born March 12, 1856. Obtained quite a liberal education in the 
common schools; spent two years in the State University, at Columbia, 
and, in 1876, graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at 
St. Louis. In 1878, he went to the mountains, and engaged in mining, 
near where Leadville now stands. He, George Tremble, and Simon H. 
Foss discovered the "Winnemuck," now part of the "Pittsburg Consoli- 
dation Mine." Was engaged in the law-suit which finally resulted in the 
consolidation, and sold out his interest for $5,000. He remained there 
until 1880, mining and keeping a feed store. In February of that year, he 
purchased the farm upon which he now resides, situated two and a half 
miles south of Aullville, consisting of 240 acres of first-class land, upon 
which he is engaged in farming and raising stock. In October, 1880, he was 
united in marriage to Miss J. Parker, a native of Johnson county. Post- 
office, Aullville. 

DR. JAMES BELT. 

Dr. Belt is a native of Loudon county, Virginia; born July 20, 1821. 
He spent three years in school, at Rockville, Montgomery county, Mary- 
land, and two years in the University of Virginia, from which he gradu- 



604 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ated in the medical department. He also spent six months in hospitals of 
Philadelphia, in order to perfect himself in surgery, etc., and afterwards 
practiced ten miles south of Frederick City, Maryland. In 1851, he came 
to Lafayette county, and settled in Wellington, where he opend the first 
drug store in that place, which he operated in connection with his prac- 
tice. In 1854, he went to Napoleon, which, in 1836-7, had been a thrifty 
town, but in consequence of the money crisis, which occurred during the 
latter year, had become sadly demoralized. When he went there the 
town itself could not be found, the lines and corners having been obliter- 
ated. He was married, April 18, 1854, to Miss Sarah E. Snoufter, a native 
of Maryland, and educated at Urbana. Eight children were born to them, 
seven of whom are living, viz: Charlotte E., (Mrs. Sittington), Georgi- 
anna S. (Mrs. Wilson), Mary E., Florence, James A., Ida W., and William 
C. The doctor laid out the town where Napoleon formerly stood, and 
called it " Lisbon," the original name, however, being retained for the post- 
office. He remained there, farming and practicing, until 1876, when he 
removed to Lexington, for the purpose of educating his children. In 
1877, he purchased and removed to the farm upon which he now resides, 
consisting of eighty acres. The doctor is intending to make a specialty 
of raising fine stock, and fish culture. He has one pond already well 
stocked with German carp. The doctor and Mrs. Belt are members of 
the Baotist Church, with membership at Aullville. P. O. Aullville. 

JOAB WORTHINGTON. 

Mr. Worthington was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, June 
5, 1831. His early education was obtained at a private school. In 1841, 
he came with his parents to Lafayette county, having spent the previous 
winter in Indiana. The family settled upon a farm located one half mile 
east of where Mr. W. now lives. March 2, 1862, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Eliza J. Allkire, a native of Hampshire county, Va. They 
became parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living, viz: 
Charles M., Edward S., Annie B., Bettie E., Abba C, Hannah D., and an 
infant son. In July, 1862, he enlisted in the federal service, Capt. Tag- 
gart's company, 71st regiment, E. M M. Was commissioned 2d Lieut., 
Oct., 15, 1862. In the first campaign he served about four months and 
was called out again in 1863. In 1864, he re-enlisted in Capt. Bundrum's 
company, in which he served only thirty days. He participated in the 
fight with Poole and Anderson's bushwhackers at Wellington. In this 
" brush " he had his horse shot under him, but finally succeeded in mak- 
ing his escape to Lexington. Returned home at the close of the war 
and resumed his occupation of farming. His farm consists of 140 acres of 
excellent land, well improved, containing a fine orchard, a never failing 
spring near his house, etc. Commencing about 1850, he acted as mail 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. . 605 

carrier for several years on the route between Freedom, on the Warrens- 
burg and Lexington road, and a point nine miles west. Mr. Worthing- 
ton's postoffice address is Aullville. 

JOSEPH M. HANDLY. 

Mr. Handly was born in Greenbrier county, Va., Sept. 21, 1818, where 
he .vas raised on a farm and educated in a subscription school. In 1839, 
he came to Lafayette county, with his father's family and located in the 
southern part, about twenty miles south of Lexington, where his father, 
Robert Handly, entered 240 acres of land. At this early day the county- 
was very sparcely settled and Indian trails were still to be seen. Mrs. 
Handly died Sept. 8, 1843, and Mr. Handly, Oct. 10, 1845. Both are 
buried in the " Scott " grave-yard. After his father's death the property 
was divided between his brother John, and himself. Mr. Handly owns at 
present 240 acres of land. April 14, 1847, he was married to Miss E. J. 
Brown, a native of Logan county, Ky. They have been parents of nine 
children, six now living, viz: Susan M., Louisa F., William E., Mary R., 
Eugene S., and Annie L. Postoffice address, Aullville. 

LUCIEN M. MAJOR. 

Mr. Major is a native of Woodford county, Ky.; born Sept. 22, 1831. 
Was raised and educated there, and in 1847, came west with his parents, 
and settled in Lafayette county, where his father, Joseph M. Major, pur- 
chased land, 18 miles south of Lexington. Lucien finished his education 
in this county, and Feb. 10, 1853, was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. 
Ridge, a native of Lafayette county. This union is blessed with ten 
children, nine of whom are living, as follows: Wm. H,, Lucien S., Benj. 
W., Isaac R., Joseph T., Earl E., Mary E., Georgia M., and Ada H.' In 

1861, he enlisted in Missouri State Guards, company E., Col. Shelby's 
regiment, in which service he remained about three months. In August, 

1862, he re-enlisted in the confederate service, in company I, Col. Elliott's 
regiment. In 1864, Mr. Major was commissioned captain of company H, 
which was organized at Boonville, in that year. Was engaged in the fol- 
lowing battles: Lexington, Springfield, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Coon 
Creek, Har.tsville, Helena, Cape Girardeau, Jenkins' Ferry, Prairie Grove, 
Prairie de Ann, DuvalPs Bluff, Pilot Knob, Ironton, Independence, Blues, 
Westport, one where Marmaduke was captured, and Drywood. At the 
second battle of Newtonia he was shot through the left lung, which disa- 
bled him for two months. He was left on the battle field was captured 
paroled and ordered to report at Springfield when able. He did so, an d 
was sent to St. Louis, and afterwards to Alton, where he remained until 
about the 20th of May, when he was released upon taking the oath of alle- 

z 



fJQO HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

giance to the federal government. He then returned home and has since 
.been living on a farm of 215 acres, situated four and a half miles south- 
west of Aullville, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. 
During the season of 1880, he raised 2,500 bushels of wheat on 110 acres, 
and sold $5,000 worth of stock. Postoffice, Aullville. 

ERASMUS L. BENTON. 

Mr. Benton is a native of Scott county, Ky.; born Feb. 3, 1819. He 
obtained his education in that county, where he lived until 1836, when he 
moved, with his parents, to Lafayette county, and settled four miles south 
of Lexington, where he lived until 1859. In same year he bought the 
farm upon which he now resides, engaged in its cultivation. In 1844, he 
returned to Kentucky, and married Miss Isabel Lackland, a native of 
Scott county. Ten children were born to them, eight of whom are now 
living, viz: George D., Ellen A., Mary E., Louisa B., Fanny S., Sallie G., 
Mattie P., and Emma L. Mr. Benton's postoffice is Aullville. 

HON. JAMES B. HORD. 

Mr. Hord is a native of Mason county, Ky.; born Oct. 20, 1819. Was 
raised and educated there, completing his course of study, by attending 
Augusta College for two years. Upon arriving at his majority, he went 
into the mercantile business at Ma3 r 's Lick, continuing in it until a short 
time previous to his advent into the state of Missouri. In 1840, he mar- 
ried Miss Mary A. Morris, a native of Kentucky. They have had thir- 
teen children born to them, ten now living, viz: Mrs. D. M. Swan, Mrs. 
Louisa Major, Mrs. Mary J. Mock, Adelia, Harriet R., Katy, Prudence 
B., Emma, Flora and Edward. The deceased are as follows; Mrs. Eliz- 
abeth Gibbons, Mrs. Fanny Snyder and William M. Mr. Hord also has 
a grand-son living with him, James Gibbons, whom he has taken care of 
since the age of eleven. About 1846, he was elected, by the whig party 
to represent Mason county, Ky., in the state legislature, in which he 
served one term with credit. In 1850, he removed to Lafayette county, 
Mo., and in 1851, located upon the farm where he now resides, consisting 
of 320 acres of excellent land. In about 1855, Mr. Hord received the 
nomination for state senator, from the district consisting of Lafayette and 
Johnson counties, at the hands of the whig party, but declined the honor. 
In 1875, without his knowledge or consent, he was appointed a member 
of the county court of this county, and was afterwards elected to same 
office. In Nov. 18S0, he was elected probate judge for this county, by an 
overwhelming majority, which office he now fills in a manner calculated 
to render impartial justice to all. Postoffice, Aullville. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 607 

CAPT. GEORGE H. MILLER, 

P. O. Aullville. Son of Maj. John and Susan Miller, of Buckingham 
county, Virginia, was born in Fluvanna county, Virginia, January 2, 1836, 
where he was raised. He taught school in Virginia until 1856, when he 
came to this county, and in 1857 was employed by Gen. Joe Shelby in 
selling goods at Berlin. In 1858 he married Miss Mary A. Corder, and 
engaged in teaching until the war broke out, when he visited Virginia 
and joined the confederate army as a private. Was adjutant of the Third 
Virginia cavalry, state service; was promoted to captain Company A, Nine- 
teenth confederete cavalry. After the fall of Richmond he was a prisoner, 
but escaped, and returned home to this county. He has eight children: 
John,Thomas J., Mary C, Elias C, Paulina B., George H., Jr., Ida L., 
and Louisa C. 

M. A. DYER, 

P. O. Aullville. Second son of Manoah W. Dyer, was born December 
22, 1838, in Warren county, Kentucky. While yet an infant he came to 
this county with his parents, locating three miles west of Aullville, where 
he was raised and educated. At the age of eighteen he entered the 
Masonic college in Lexington; in the second session he was taken with 
fever, brought home in a wagon, and came near dying; never went back. 
He then went to teaching, and taught to the beginning of the war. Did 
not join either army. May 28, 1861, he married Miss Melissa Brown, of 
Johnson county, by whom he had two children, Sallie and Lucinda: the 
first died in 1865. His wife dying, he was married the second time — to 
Miss Emily Hoffman, of Johnson county, Missouri, March 25, 1867, and 
by this union he has six children living: Lydia, Nettie, Carter, Freddie, 
Mattie M., and Carrie. Mr. Dyer lives on his farm of 200 acres, the farm 
lying mostly in this county, but a portion of it in Johnson. He is a mem- 
ber of the Christian church, a good citizen and a good farmer. 

SAMUEL J. MORGAN, 

P. O. Aullville. Is the son of Samuel Morgan, and was born in Owen 
county, Kentucky, three miles north of the county seat, December 18, 
1817. January 8, 1841, he was married to Miss S. Long of Lexington, 
Kentucky. He then settled in Grant county, Kentucky, where he lived 
some years, then moved to Carroll county, Kentucky, where he lived 
two years, and then moved back to Owen county. In October, 1855, he 
moved to this county, and settled in Freedom township, the spring of the 
next year. He first built on a part of his land; after living on it thirteen 
years sold it, and built on the northern part of his land, making it a farm 
of 260 acres: this he sold to J. R. Avitt. His only son, Peter, built a short 



608 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

distance west, adjoining his tract of 320 acres. Peter has an excellent 
farm northwest quarter section 6, township 48, range 25, and the east one 
half of the northeast quarter of section 1, township 4S, range 25, and eighty 
acres in township 49. This farm of fine Davis Creek bottom is in a good 
state of cultivation and improvement, and one of the best farms in the 
county. Mr. Morgan is noted for raising good horses, and has raised 
nine colts from one mare, which averaged him $150 each. His son, Peter, 
married Miss Inez Brock, of Kentucky, April 17, 1873. He was then 
twenty-seven years of age, and his wife fifteen. They have three chil- 
dren: Samuel P., William G., and George K. Peter is a member of the 
Baptist church, a good citizen, husband and father. 

H. C. BRUNS, 

P. O. Concordia, Missouri. Was born in this county February 8, 1848, and 
was educated at the German and English schools of Freedom township. 
He was raised on a farm and in 1871 was married to Miss Wilhelmina 
Lantz, a native of Germany, by whom he has had four children, three of 
them now living: Mary, Al vine, and Ida. He is now engaged in farming, 
owning 163 acres of excellent land. During the war he belonged to the 
home guards, in Capt. Pepper's company, and was one of the party which 
was attacked by the bushwhackers in their raid of October, 1864. He 
escaped by dismounting and crawling under a corn crib. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Lutheran church of Concordia. 

REV. H. P. WILLE, 

P. O. Concordia. Was born December 18, 1843, in Hamburg, Ger- 
many, and came to this country with his parents when only three months 
old. They landed at New York city, and moved to Wisconsin, near Mil- 
waukee, where he was raised and educated. He was educated for the 
ministry, partly at Buffalo, N. Y., and partly at St. Louis, Missouri, where 
together, he spent four years. He first engaged in teaching in New York, 
then went to California to preach in 1870, where he staid four years. In 
the fall of 1874 he came to the Cross church near Concordia, in this county, 
of which he is now pastor. 

HENRY WEHRS, 

P. O. Concordia, Missouri. Was born in Germany, December 19, 1841, 
and at the age of six years, came with his parents to the United States. 
They came directly to this county, where they have lived ever since. He 
was educated at the German and English schools of the township. On 
the 28th of February, 1866, he was married to Miss Doretta Oetting, a 
native of this county. They have had eight children, six of them now 
living, four girls and two boys: Amelia, Martha, Lena, Lilly, William, and 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 609 

Henry. Mr. Wehrs is now engaged in farming, owning 249 acres of fine 
land. Both himstlf and wife are members of the Lutheran church, at the 
Cross church. In 1862 he enlisted in the 71st regiment, E. M. M., and 
was corporal in his company. He was in the fight at Wellington in this 
county. He had been asleep, and when he woke up the rest of his com- 
mand were gone. He took the only gun left, jumped on his horse and 
escaped amid a shower of bullets from the confederates, who had come up 
while he was asleep. 

HENRY MILLER, ESQ., 

P. O. Concordia. Was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 26, 1833. 
At the age of eleven he came to America with his parents, landing at 
New Orleans, where they lived two years. In June, 1846, they came to 
Lafayette county, Missouri, where they lived until 1865. He then went to 
Illinois, where he lived three years, and returned to this county, where he 
has since continued to live. In 1857 he was married to Miss Sophia 
Wehrs, a native of Hanover. They have had five children, three of whom 
are living: John T., William H., and Mary. In December, 1875, his wife 
died and was buried at Cross church. At present he owns 181 acres of land, 
which he is engaged in farming. In 1858 he was elected justice of the 
peace for Freedom township, but refused to serve. He was re-elected in 
the fall of 1859, and served until 1865. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 
enrolled militia in Capt. Ehler's company, 71st regiment. He was orderly 
sergeant of his company. 

A. H. DANKENBRING, 

P. O. Concordia, Missouri. Was born in Germany, April 26, 1846. 
When he was but a year old his parents came to the United States, 
and lived for a time in St. Louis. They then came to Lexington, in this 
county. They then moved to the farm three miles east of Concordia, 
where he now lives. He was educated at the country schools and raised 
on the farm. In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary Dickenhorst, also a 
native of Germany. They have seven children, all living: Emily, Anna, 
Eliza, Flora, Mary, William and George. Mr. Dankenbring owns 
100 acres of good farming land, upon 52 acres of which, in 1880, he raised 
nine hundred bushels of wheat. He and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran church, Rev. Wille, pastor. His father, 1 lenry Dankenbring, 
died in 1873 and was buried at the Church of the Cross. 

HENRY DIERKING, 

P. O. Concordia, Missouri. Was born in this county, January 31, 1849, 
and here he was also raised and educated. In 1871 he was married to Miss 
Lena Willa, a native of Germany, she being six years old when she came 



610 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

to this country with her parents. They have had five children, four of 
them now living: Charlie, Martin Lena and Bertha. Mr. Dierking 
resides six miles southeast of Corder, and owns 116 acres of fine land. 
In 1880 he raised 700 bushels of wheat on 40 acres. Both he and his 
wife are members of the church, near Concordia. His father, G. F. 
Dierking, was one of the early settlers of the count)-, coming here from 
the old country thirty-three years ago. He died April 28, 18S0, and was 
buried at St. John's church. 

FERDINAND ERDMANN, 

P. O. Concordia, Missouri. Was born near Berlin, in Prussia, December 
2, 1833, where he was raised and educated. At the age of twenty he 
came to the United States, and lived in New Jersey four years, at Egg- 
Harbor City, being one of the pioneers. While there he married Miss 
Josephine Fisher, a native of France. They have four children, all living, 
three boys and one girl: Ferdinand, William, Margarette and Bismark. 
In 1857 he went to Cincinnati, where he lived until the war broke out. 
In 186 L he enlisted for three months' service, in company E, 2d Kentucky 
infant^. While in this company he was promoted to 3d sergeant. Was 
in the battles of Bowling Green, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Tuscumbia, Mur- 
freesboro, where he was taken prisoner by Forrest, and kept two weeks 
and paroled. He re-enlisted in the 4th Indiana, and was in the battles of 
Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Jackson, Blackwater, Jackson again, Look- 
out Mountain, Resacca, Dallas, Marrietta Mountain, Jonesboro, Big Sandy 
and in Sherman's march to the sea, and at Nashville and was discharged 
in 1865. After the war he lived for awhile in Kansas. In August, 1867, 
he moved to this county, where he has since lived, engaged in farming and 
stock raising. Has 200 acres of land and some fine horses of the Mor- 
gan and Norman stock. In 1875 he was elected constable of Freedom, 
and was re-elected in 1877. 

FRITZ STROSBERG, 

P. O. Concordia, Missouri. Was born in Prussia, March 14, 1834, where 
he was raised and educated at the common schools. At the age of nine- 
teen he came to the United States and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, for 
one year. He then came to this county where he still lives. He learned 
the tailor's trade in his native land and followed the same in this country 
until the breaking out of the war. In 1858 he was married to Miss Mary 
Slaman, a native of Germany, and they have had ten children, eight of 
them now living: Edward, Samuel, Daniel, Julia, Amelia, Lydia, 
Ida and Mary. Since the war he has been engaged in farming, five miles 
southeast of Concordia in this county, owning 190 acres of land. In 1861 
he enlisted in company C, 26th Missouri volunteer infantry, and was dis- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 611 

charged in 1862. He re-enlisted in the 7th Missouri state militia cav- 
alry. This regiment was afterward consolidated with the 1st Missouri, in 
which he was in company M. Battles: Springfield, Mark's Mills, where 
he was taken prisoner to Tyler, Texas; exchanged at the end of thirteen 
months. He was discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1865. Both 
he and his wife are members of the German Baptist church of Concordia. 

JOHN KRESSE. 

Mr. Kresse is a native of Lafayette county, Missouri, born June 5, 1854. 
Was raised on a farm and educated in both German and English. In 
1875, he was married to Miss Annie Heinbrook, a native of Chariton 
county, Missouri. Two children were born to them, both now living, viz: 
Otis and Josie. Mr. Kresse is now living on his father's farm, situated 
about two miles south-east of Concordia. His father, Charles Kresse, is 
a native of Germany, where he was married to Henrietta Miller. He 
came to this county in 1848 and has since resided here. His youngest son 
John, is the only one of his children now living with him. He and his 
wife are members of the German Baptist church of Concordia. In 1880 
he raised 1000 bushels of wheat on forty acres, and forty bushels of corn 
per acre. Postoffice, Concordia. 

J. WHITE WADDELL, 

P. O. Tabo, Missouri; son of John T. and Nelly Waddell, was born Janu- 
ary 19, 1836, in Mason county, Kentuckv. His parents were of Scotch 
descent, and came to Missouri when he was nine months old. They first 
settled in Lexington in this county, where his father died. His father 
built one of the first mills in this section, and died there. He received his 
education in Lexington, at the Masonic College. He served an appren- 
ticeship at the tinner's trade, and afterwards worked at the trade. Janu- 
ary 31, 1861, he married Miss Mattie G. Waddle, of Lexington, daughter 
of J.J. Waddle. They have one daughter, Hannah Lee, who is now at 
the Baptist Female Seminary, Lexington. From 1863 to 1865 he was 
deputy sheriff under Jake Price. He has a fine farm of 407 acres, which 
he has made by his own industry. 

WILLIAM B. DOUGLASS, 

P. O. Aullville, Missouri; son of Charles B. and Rebecca Douglass, was 
born December 19, 1839, in Fleming county, Kentucky. He came to 
Missouri when Wm. was but five years old, and settled in Jackson county 
in 1844. In 1850 they moved to this county and settled in Freedom town- 
ship, where he was raised and educated mostly. He was raised on a farm,, 
which has been his occupation in life. In 1862 he enlisted in the confede- 
rate army and served to the end of the war as a private. After the war 



612 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY., 

closed he farmed for twelve years in Tennessee. He was married August 
30, 1866, to Miss Annie E. Flemming, of Monocacy. They have five 
children living: Ada R., Nannie, Carrie A., Mary, Stover. He then 
returned to this county, and where he is now living. 

JOHN B. MAJOR, 

P. O. Aullville, Missouri; was born November 20, 1852, in Wellington, 
in this county. His father having moved here from Kentucky. He was 
raised and educated in this county. All his life he has pursued the hon- 
orable and independent calling of a farmer, in which he has prospered. 
December 24, 1873, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Brown, also of 
Freedom township, in this county, a daughter of Capt. J. W. Brown. 
They have two children living, VVm. E., and Claud B. He has a fine' 
farm of 160 acres which is in a high state of cultivation, and underlaid 
with coal. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. 
He is a good farmer, and as a citizen is respected by all. 



CITY OF LEXINGTON. 
THOMAS L. BOLTON, M. D. 

Dr. Bolton was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, April 16,1820. 
In 1830 he moved with his parents to Jefferson City, Missouri. He was 
educated primarily at Forest Hill Academy, in Cole county, Missouri, a 
noted school at that time. At an early age he acquired a taste for the 
study of medicine and his father having several medical works in his pos- 
session, their contents were eagerly devoured by the young student. He 
followed farming until 1851, when he attended his first course of lectures 
at the Reformed Medical College, at Cincinnati. He was afterwards 
associated for two years with Dr. Brockman, of Miller county, Missouri, 
after which he entered the B. and M. Medical College, at Memphis, Ten- 
nessee, from which he graduated in 1854. He then practiced in Callaway 
and Miller counties until 1859, when he came to Lafayette county and 
purchased a farm near Mayview, which he cultivated in connection with 
his practice. In 1865 he located in Lexington, where he has since resided 
giving his entire time and attention to the practice of his profession, in 
which he commands the confidence and respect of his contemporaries. His 
enviable position has been reached by his indomitable energy coupled 
with a determination to succeed. The doctor makes a specialty of rectal 
diseases. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1845, of 
which he has been a deacon for seven years. Was married September 
17, 1845, to Miss Margaret Glover, of Cole county, Missouri, who died 
in June of 1851. Three children were born to them, only one now living, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 613 

the Rev. DeWitt C. Bolton, pastor of the Baptist church at Lamar, Mis- 
souri. For his second wife' the doctor married Miss Margaret B. Palmer, 
of Jefferson City, Missouri, the wedding occuring December 20, 1855. 
By this marriage nine children were born to them, five now living, viz: 
William, Mary Bell, Thomas, Horace, and Benjamin V. Mrs. Bolton has 
been a member of the church since fourteen years of age. 

JUDGE ELDRIDGE BURDEN. 

Judge Eldridge Burden was born in Nicholas county, Ky., December 
27, 1802, being the youngest child of James and Mary (Brain) Burden, of 
Virginia. His father was a soldier of the revolution, and served, in com- 
pany with his brother, Joel Burden, under Gen. Washington. After the 
war Joel Burden settled at Philadelphia, where his descendants now reside. 
The parents of Eldridge settled in Nicholas county, Ky., where they died, 
leaving him, at the age of seven, a penniless orphan. Gov. Thomas Met- 
calf, of Kentucky, assumed his guardianship, and he was adopted as a 
member of the governor's family, receiving from the teaching and exam- 
ple of his noble benefactor those principles of probity and ambition for 
usefulness, which distinguished his after life. He qualified himself to 
commence the study of law by laboring in his youth for the means with 
which to defray his expenses at school. He was educated at Transylvania 
University, Lexington, Ky., where he graduated with honors in the year 
1833, and the same year removed to Lexington, Mo., where he has since 
resided, in active practice of the law, his chosen profession. He was mar- 
ried on the 26th day of October, 1837, to Miss Patsey Triplett Waddell, 
daughter of John T. Waddell, one of the founders of Lexington, Mo. 
Mr. Burden was an old line Whig, and found, when he settled in Lexing- 
ton, only fifty members of his party to oppose an overwhelming Demo- 
cratic majority in Lafayette county. In 1838 he entered the political arena 
as champion of the Whig cause in his section, and in a few yeats enjoyed 
the satisfaction of seeing his party largely in the ascendancy. During the 
war, and since, he has affiliated with the Democratic party. He served 
eight years in the Missouri Legislature, from the session of 1842 at inter- 
vals until 1860, during which time he was thrice elected president of the 
State Bank at Lexington, on joint ballot of that Democratic body, over 
prominent candidates of the dominant party. For twelve years he was 
judge of the Probate Court of his county — a court at that time of exten- 
sive jurisdiction— and served with marked ability, having but one appeal 
from his decisions. During the late war an earnest unionist, he declined 
the tendered appointment as judge of the sixth judicial circuit, made by 
Gov. Gamble, because at the time he was under parole of honor # from the 
confederate government. He was one of the originators and champions 
of the bill abolishing imprisonment for debt, and the success of that meas- 



614 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ure in Missouri was mainly attributable to his able efforts in its advocacy. 
In the halls of legislation and in the Federal and State courts, he was the 
compeer of Doniphan, Ryland, King, Rollins, Leonard, and other emi- 
nent men of the state. He is a Mason, and a member of the Christian 
church. He was vice-president of the first horticultural society of Mis- 
souri, and the first mayor of Lexington, and has served in many official 
capacities of a public nature; in fact, since his location in Lafayette his 
history may be said to be that of the county, for he has been identified 
with every event of a political and municipal character. Judge Burden, 
although past the meridian of life, is possessed of a vigorous constitution 
and great physical strength, remarkably well preserved by his temperate 
life and moral habits, eschewing the use of tobacco and ardent spirits. 
His judicial qualifications are of the first order, enabling him with com- 
parative ease to follow the thread of law through all the subtleties of com- 
plicated legal questions. His life presents an example of more frequent 
occurrence in our own country than any other, where men without the 
extraneous influences of wealth and high connections, by their unaided 
efforts raise themselves to the highest positions of honor, and acquire the 
esteem and confidence of their countrymen in consideration alone of their 
own intrinsic merits. In all the walks of public life Judge Burden served 
his country with zealous fidelity, and expects to pass his remaining days 
with those among whom he has grown gray in honorable usefulness. 

JOHN E. BURDEN, 

attorney at law, son of Judge Eldridge Burden, is a native of Lexington, 
Mo., where he grew to manhood and was educated primarily, completing 
a verv liberal education at Bethany College, Virginia, from which institu- 
tion he graduated with high honor. He held the office of clerk of Pro- 
bate Court from 1862 to 1S67, and the office of county recorder from 1867 
to 1874. In the meantime he also studied law with his father, a man who 
enjoys a high reputation as a successful practitioner, and a profound jurist. 
In 1875 he began the practice of his profession, entering into partnership 
with his father, the firm being styled "Burden & Son." This firm stands 
among the leading ones of Lexington, the acquisition of which position is 
due largely to the ability and enterprise of the junior member. He is 
regarded among his legal associates as one of the rising young lawyers of 
the age. December 15, 1862, he led to the marriage altar Miss Isadore 
Ewing, daughter of Col. Thompson M. Ewing, of this county. Their 
wedded happiness was of brief duration, his wife dying in April, 1S73, 
leaving him with three children to mourn the loss of wife and mother. 
The children are named as follows: Patsey A., Isadore M., and Eldridge. 
November 10, 1875, he was again married to Miss Ella D. Harrison, of 
Danville, Ky., where their nuptials were celebrated in magnificent style. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 615 

PASCHAL H. CHAMBERS, M. D. 

The subject of this brief sketch was born in Louisville, Ky., February 
6, 1824. Was educated at Hanover college, Indiana, and also at Miami 
University, of Oxford, Ohio, from which latter place he graduated in 1845. 
In same year he came to Lafayette county, Mo., and taught school near 
Higginsville, to obtain money to enable him to complete his studies, devot- 
ing his spare time to reading medicine. He afterwards attended a course 
of lectures at Louisville Medical College, and then practiced at Waverly 
and Lexington for a time, finally completing his medical education at 
Louisville Medical College, from which he graduated in the spring of 
1850. He then located at Dover, this county, where he practiced for 17 
years, meeting with unusual success. During the war he steadilv pur- 
sued the even tenor of his way, treating friend and foe alike. Was rob- 
bed by the bushwhackers, and arrested by the federals taken to Gratiot 
prison, St. Louis, confined for seven weeks, and then released. In 1S67, 
he located in Lexington, where he has since resided, engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession, receiving his full share of the public patronage. 
The Dr. has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1845, of 
which he has been an Elder since 1857. Is a member of the Masonic 
order and has been W. M. of Lexington lodge for two years. October 
24, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. Wallace, a 
daughter of Henry C. Wallace, deceased; and sister of Hon. H. C. Wal- 
lace, of Lexington. Seven children were born, three of whom are now 
living, viz: Paschal H. Jr., Cabel W. and Kent Kane. Mrs. Chambers 
died, Sept. 17, 1859. June 27, 1861, he again married Miss E. Antoinette 
Shewalter, daughter of Joseph Shewalter. She died Jan. 24 of the follow- 
ing year. The Dr. married, for his third wife, Miss Augusta Stokes, 
daughter t-f John H. Stokes of Dunklin county, Mo. By this union they 
have had four children, three now living, viz: Sallie H., Lucretia C. and 
James Quarles. 

THOMAS B. CLAGETT. 

Mr. Clngett is a lineal descendant of one of the prominent families of 
Maryland — that of Bishop Clagett, who was the first bishop of that state. 
He was born in Montgomery county, Md., April 22, 1809. His early life 
was passed upon a farm — meanwhile acquiring a liberal education in a 
private school. At the age of 15 years, he went to Harper's Ferry, and 
engaged as clerk in a store for three years, upon the following very remu- 
nerative (?) terms: — For the first year he was to receive his board; for the 
second year, his board and clothes, and the third year one hundred dollars 
and his board. He served in this capacity for ten years, and then went 
into business for himself, merchandising, for one year. In 1836, he started 



616 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

west, going to Highland county Ohio, by stage, where he remained one 
month. He then purchased a horse and saddle and started on horseback 
for a tour through the boundless west. He passed through Georgetown 
and Shelbyville Kv., stopping at each place a month or so, then crossed 
the Ohio river, at Louisville, which was but a snail town then, and trav- 
eling through Indiana and Illinois, arrived at St. Louis in June 1836. 
Remaining there a month, he again mounted his Pe<rassus and rode to 
Fulton. Mo., where he remained but a short time, however, and then 
returned to St. Louis, where he sold his horse and equipments. He then 
went to Baltimore Md.. via. Wheeling Ya.. and there purchased a stock 
of goods, with which he returned to St. Louis and opened out a general 
merchandising store, in which he was engaged until 1841. He then went 
to Lexington and entered into partnership with H. C. Boteller, with 
whom he continued business until 1S71, the firm doinu a large and exten- 
sive business in the mercantile line. Thev lost about $40,000 during the 
war. but paid up their entire indebtedness in full — thev being the only 
firm in Lexington that did not have to compromise with their creditors 
From 1S71 to L880, Mr. C. carried on the business alone, retiring from it 
in the latter year. He has been a merchant of Lexington for about 40 
years, during which time many important changes have passed within the 
scope of his observation. When he first came here there was an exten- 
sive cornfield where the court house now stands. Was closelv identified 
with the interests of the city in its palmiest days, being a member of its 
second city council. At the present time he is holding the office of city 
register and treasurer. October 5, 1850, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Ann Xeilson, of Howard county, Mo., formerlv of Va., and a rela- 
tive of the Randolphs. She died Oct. 11, 1S53. leaving one child, viz: 
William S., now leading merchant of Lexington. Mr. Clagett was again 
married, Dec. 4. 1858, to Miss Ann H. Boteller. of Washington county, 
Maryland. Bv this marriage thev have had four children, two now liv- 
ing, viz: Annie W. and Ella B. 

WILLIAM A. GORDON. M. D. 

William Abraham Gordon was born May 10, 1S'21, in Canton, Trigg 
county, Kentucky. His father, George Haynes Gordon was born in 
Hawkins county, East Tennessee. May 27. 1706. His mother. Martha 
Boyd, onlv daughter of Abraham Bovd and sister of John, Linn, Alferd 
and Rutus Bovd. was born Feb. 25. 1799. The father and mother of our 
c: were married in November, 1S16. in Canton, Trigg county, Ken- 
tuckv, in which town and its vicinity, they lived until the fall of 1832. The 
farther was engaged in the mercantile business and in farming while he 
lived in Kentucky. On the 1st of October. 1S82, he started for Missouri, 
and arrived in Lafavette countv, Oct. 28, 1S32. William A. Gordon was 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 617 

educated at the common schools in the country in Lafayette county. The 
branches taught were spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography 
and English grammar. He attended two winter sessions of about three 
months each, at Dover, in the same county, assisted in teaching, and stud- 
ied geometry and trigonometry. At the age of twenty-two he attended 
a high school about two months, in Cadiz, Trigg county, Kentucky, at 
which he studied latin and algebra. His first step after leaving school 
was to teach, that he might thereby be enabled to educate himself. He 
taught his first school, six months, in the spring and summer of 1839, 
before entering upon his nineteenth year. The following winter he 
boarded and went to school in Dover to John A. Tutt. The next spring 
and summer he taught again at the same place where he had been teach- 
ing the year before, and the winter following again went to school in 
Dover to the same teacher. He was employed the next two years in 
teaching surveying, being deputy under his father, and in farming. In 
the spring of 1844 he commenced the study of medicine, having for his 
preceptor Wm. P. Boulware, M. D., of Lexington, and attended his first 
course of lectures in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, at the Louisville 
Medical Institute at the session of 1845-6. Upon returning home he com- 
menced the practice of his profession in connection with his cousin, Wil- 
liam L. Gordon, near Oak Grove, in Jackson county, Missouri. They 
practiced together till the following fall, when he again went to Louisville 
to attend a second course of lectures at the University of Kentucky, and 
graduated March 1, 1847. He returned home and resumed the practice 
of medicine, locating at James Walton's, in the southwest part of Lafay- 
ette county, better known as Texas Prairie. The doctor continued to 
practice there till the fall of 1849, when he removed to Dover, in the same 
county, where he remained until the following spring, when he deter- 
mined to go to the gold mines of California, where he remained about a 
year and a half. He left San Francisco for home November 1, 1851, on 
the steamship Tennessee, and arrived on the 26th day of the following 
December. In March, 1852, Dr. Gordon located in Wellington, Lafay- 
ette county, where he practiced his profession until April 1, 1858, when 
he moved to a farm about three and a half miles from May view, in Wash- 
ington township, of the same county, and resided there until February, 
1873. He then moved to Lexington, having been elected to the office of 
county collector, and is now (1881), living in the suburbs of that city. 
The doctor's first militarv record was made when he was only seventeen 
vears of age, in the fall of 1838, in a campaign against the Mormons, then 
living in Caldwell county, Missouri. The brigade commander was Gen. 
James H. Graham, of Lexington. He went as a substitute for his brother, 
John B. In July, 1S61, he enlisted as private in the Missouri State Guards, 
under Gen. Sterling Price, at Cowskin Prairie, Missouri; and January 1, 



618 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

L862, entered company A, Rives' regiment, confederate states army, at 
Springfield, Missouri, and was appointed regimental surgeon at Corinth, 
Mississippi, in May or June, 1862, serving in that capacity till the close of 
the war — most of the time with the 1st Missouri cavalry, Col. E. Gates. 
He was captured at the fall of Mobile, April 9, 1865, the same day that 
Gen. R. E. Lee, surrendered the confederate forces to Gen. Grant, and 
got back to his home June 19, 1865. In August, 1860, Dr. Gordon was 
elected as one of the representatives to the legislature from Lafayette 
countv, for the term of two years. He served one regular session in that 
bodv, and also at the called session in May, and in the extraordinary ses- 
sion held at Neosho, in Newton county, and in Cassville, in Barry county. 
At the November election in 1872, he was elected collector of Lafayette 
county for the term of two years. At the November election in 1874, he 
was re-elected to the same office, and in 1876, declined to be a candidate 
for a third term. He connected himself with the Christian church in 
Lexington in the summer of 1841, and has continued in that faith. His 
mother joined the church in about a year after he did, and continued in 
the faith until her death. Dr. Gordon has been acting with the democrats 
since the close of the civil war in 1865. His first vote for president was 
cast for the illustrious Henry Clay, in 1844, and he acted with the old whig 
party as long as it had an existence. Dr. William A. Gordon was mar- 
ried to Margaret V. Green May 10, 1849, that being his 29th birthday, 
His wife was the seventh child of the late Col. Lewis Green, an old set- 
tler and a very highly respected citizen of Lafayette county. She was 
born. Oct. 27, 1826, in Sumner count\-, Tennessee. They have had born 
to them ten children — all girls; Martha Elizabeth, Sophia Mildred, 
Emma Franklin, Mary Walker, Lucy Evving, Catherine Green, Florence 
Edwards, Jane Lee, Nancy Shelby, and Minnie Carson. Sophia and 
Emma died in infancy, the former when about ten months and the latter 
about sixteen months old. Lucy died in her twenty-first year. 

WILLIAM G. McCAUSLAND. 

The subject of the following brief sketch is a native of Harrisonburg, 
Rockingham county, Va., born December 18, 1829. In 1830 his parents 
went to St. Louis county, Mo., and in 1832 came to Lafayette county, and 
settled near where Higginsville now is. They were the pioneers of that 
neighborhood. Wm. McCausland, Sr., filled the office of Justice of the 
Peace for twenty years, and also represented the county in the state legis- 
lature. Wm. G., Jr., obtained quite a liberal education in the common 
schools, and remained upon his father's farm until reaching his majority, 
when he came to Lexington and engaged as clerk in one of the stores, 
where he remained until 1858, at which time he embarked in the dry 
goods trade, in which he was engaged when the war broke out. He was 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 619 

the first man arrested by the federals for having a secession flag fl\ ing 
over his house. In 1861 he enlisted in the State Guards, Capt. John P. 
• Bowman's company, Gen. Raines' division, in which he served six months, 
participating in the battle of Pea Ridge and several other skirmishes. He 
then returned horns and resumed the dry goods business, which has since 
occupied his attention. By his uniform courtesy and attention to his cus- 
tomers he has succeeded in establishing a lucrative trade. Has been a 
member of the City Council three terms, and two years since he joined 
the Masons. Is an elder of the Presbyterian church, and also one of the 
trustees of the Wentworth Male Academy. August 2-\ I860, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Susan A. Arnold, of Lexington, Mo., and 
daughter of Dr. G. G. Arnold. She is a member of the Episcopal church. 

WILLIAM MORRISON, 

was born in Pittsburg, Pa., August 7, 1817, being the elder of two chil- 
dren. His parents' names were John Morrison and Nancv Barnes, and 
they both died while he was yet young; his mother when he was only two 
years old. His father was a tinner and copper-smith by trade, and he and 
his brother served in the war of 1812 under Gen. Harrison. His father 
moved, when William was quite young, to New Lisbon, Ohio, and there 
he received a common school education. At twelve years of age he left 
school, so that his education has been mainly a practical one, and what he 
has been able to pick, up during a verv practical life. The onlv legacv he 
received from his father was the request that he would learn the trade of 
a tin and coppersmith; and on leaving school he went to Steuben ville 
Ohio, and apprenticed himself for five years to that business. In 1836, at 
the end of his apprenticeship, he went south and worked at his trade in 
Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana, until 1840, when he movecj to St. 
Louis. Previous to this he had started for the same point, but the steamer 
on which he embarked was sunk; he lost everything he had and returned 
to New Orleans, where he worked until he had again acquired the neces- 
sary funds. After a short stay in St. Louis he went to Lexington, and, in 
connection with another gentleman, commenced business on his own 
account, the means he had saved furnishing him a start. He continued 
the copartnership four Years, when he concluded to transact business alone 
which he did for two years. He then associated himself with a partner, 
and continued in business for seven years, when the partnership dissolved, 
and he conducted the business alone up to the breaking out of the war. 
Meantime the demand for his goods became so large that he had to erect 
a foundry in 1858, which he operated until 1861 with very great success. 
In 1852 he established a branch store in Kansas City for the sale of his 
goods, and for ten rears largely supplied the Mexican traders with stoves 
and camp equipage, etc. During the war his foundry was destroyed by 



tjl*!' HISTORY OK LAFAVETTE COUNTY. 

the United States government to prevent it from falling into the hands of 
the rebel forces. In 186SJ he rebuilt it, and it is still in operation. In 1865 
he sold out and turned his attention exclusively to banking, in which he 
has ever since been engaged. In 1S44 he was appointed by Gov. Austin 
A. King director on the part of the state in a branch of the bank of the 
State of Missouri, located at Lexington, and continued so during its exist- 
ence. Immediately succeeding it was the Farmers' Bank of Missouri 
with branches at Liberty and Paris, and during his attendance in the leg- 
islature he rendered valuable service in obtaining its charter. During the 
twelve years it existed he was a director in it and one of its stockholders 
Owing to the heavy tax imposed upon banking (ten per cent.) it was finally 
wound up without any loss to any one. He then associated with himself 
Mr. Wentworth, and in 1S64 opened a private bank under the stvle of 
William Morrison & Co., of which he became cashier. In February, 1S75, 
the firm organized under the state law, with the style of the Morrison- 
Wentwoith bank. He was elected mayor of the city soon after it obtained 
its charter. In 1S57-5S he represented his county in the legislature. He 
has been president of the board of curators of Central Female College 
since its organization in 1S6S. He also helped organize the coal company 
which furnishes coal for the Pacific Railroad, and is president of the board. 
He is also cashier in the Morrison- Wentworth bank, as well as one of its 
principal stockholders. His travels have extended over most of the United 
States and Canada. He has been a Methodist for thirtv years, and has 
always been a strong Democrat. He was married in Lexington in lS-i-i, 
to Miss Elizabeth Funk, daughter of Henry Funk, a farmer in Illinois, 
and has four children, all living, one daughter and three sons. His daugh- 
ter is married to Mr. Henrv C. English, a teacher in the deaf and dumb 
asylum, Fulton, Mo. His eldest son operates the fOundrv, his second son 
is in the bank, while the third is still at school. To no one, perhaps, does 
Lexington owe more for its growth and prosperity than to Mr. Morrison. 
Since he Settled there he has always done a large business, and for nearly 
twenty years kept his foundry running, employing continuallv from forty 
to sixty men. To his efforts is mainly due the building of the St. Louis 
and Lexington railroad, and in every public enterprise he has shown himself 
to be a public spirited and liberal man. 

COL. GEORGE SOLON RATHBUN. 

The subject of this sketch was born at Newbugh, Ohio, on the 27th 
day of February, 1829. His parents' names were George Steward Raih- 
bun and Harriet (Warren) Rathbun. His mother died when he was thir- 
teen years of age. His father, a farmer, still lives near East Cleveland. 
After having received a fair academical education and graduating at 
Bacon's commercial college, at Cincinnati, he entered upon the study of 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 621 

law in the office of Bishop & Baccus, attorneys at Cleveland, Ohio. Pre- 
vious to completing his studies at the age of nineteen, he removed to the 
state of Missouri residing for several years in St Louis county, when he 
removed to the county of Lafayette, and for a time engaged in teach- 
ing, having charge of the Wellington academy. On the 25th of May, 
1857 was duly licensed by Judge Russell Hicks, of the sixth judicial cir- 
cuit, as a practicing attorney and enrolled as a member of the Lexington 
bar. At the November election, 1860, as a candidate of the Whig party 
upon the Bell and Everett ticket, he was elected to represent his county 
in the state legislature. Col. Rathbun received his commission from Gov. 
Jackson as lieutenant colonel and judge advocate of the eighth military 
district, including the border counties south of the Missouri river, and 
immediately repaired to Lexington to organize forces for the coming 
struggle. He actively participated in the siege and battle of Lexington, 
and rendered efficient service in the reorganization of the army at Boston 
Mountains, and in the advance to Pea Ridge and at Elkhorn Tavern 
was present upon the field and participated with the Missouri troops in all 
the vicissitudes of that memorable engagement. He commanded the 
advance at the battle of Prairie Grove: was present at Lone Jack. He 
participated in the fight at Granby and Xewtonia, and also upon the expe- 
dition to Cape Girardeau, commanding the rear from Bloomfield to the 
crossing of the St Francis river, repulsing repeated attacks made upon it; 
participated in the unfortunate and ill-timed expedition to Helena. In 
August, 1SG4, it having been determined to invade Missouri, a company 
of officers and men, numbering about one hundred, wer esent into the 
state in advance of Price's command to penetrate to the western border 
and concentrate all the irregular troops and volunteers to join the regular 
forces upon their arrival. Of this company, Col. Rathbun was chosen 
commander, and starting out upon the march from Batesville, Arkansas, 
entered the state near West Plains, and passing through Texas county 
entered Laclede. Passing on. without interruption, through Henry and 
Johnson counties, Lafayette county was reached, Lexington menaced, the 
Federal forces there stationed crossed the river, and the city- formally sur- 
rendered and was occupied by the confederates some three weeks before 
Price's arrival. Then followed the battle of Westport and the retreat 
southward which, after leaving Missouri, became the march of a disorgan- 
ized rabble, without order, without commissary stores and without any 
fixed purpose, except to get through the wild Indian country, if possible, 
into southern Arkansas and Texas. He remained at Arkadelphia until 
the year following the close of the war, when he returned with his family 
(bringing with him a young Arkansian) to Lexingtan and, as soon as per- 
mitted by the iron-clad oath, resumed his profession of the law. As 

AA 



622 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

attorney and director of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad company he 
aided materially in the successful completion of that road, and secured 
its first lease in the Missouri Pacific. He is an Odd Fellow in good stand- 
ing and a member of the Christian church. He was married July 4, 1858, 
to Miss Dicie Jennie Dean, daughter of Jesse Dean, of Lafayette county, 
formerly of Carrollton, Ky., by whom he has had six children, all living; 
the four oldest being sons and the two others little girls, six and nine, 
respectively, all born in Lafayette, except one son, Willie, in Arkansas. 

WILLIAM WALKER. 

Mr. Walker is a native of Dearborn county, Indiana; born September 1, 
1822. In 1836 his parents moved with him to Mason county, Illinois, and 
located on a farm, where William grew to manhood — meanwhile, receiv- 
ing a fair education in the historical " log school house " of the day. In 
1842 he began the study of the law at Springfield, Illinois, with Col. Ed. 
Baker, who was afterwards U. S. senator irom California, and who event- 
ually received his death wound at the battle of Ball's Bluff, during the late 
war. Their office was next door to that of Abraham Lincoln, of whom he 
became an intimate personal friend. He was admitted to the bar in 1844, 
and began the practice of the law at Havana, Illinois, where he remained 
until 1865, ultimately acquiring a large and lucrative practice, extending 
over several counties. He then removed to Lexington, Missouri, where 
he has since resided engaged in the practice of his profession. He has 
the reputation of being at the head of it in criminal practice. In 1867 he 
was appointed judge of the court of common pleas, by Gov. Fletcher, and 
in 1868 was elected to the same for a period of four years. This office 
being abolished in 1872, he returned to the practice of the law. Is attorney 
for the Chicago & Alton railroad. The judge has always been a staunch 
republican in politics, and was a delegate to the first republican state con- 
vention held in Illinois, in 1854. He has been married three times; first to 
Miss Kate Wheeler, of Logan county, Illinois, in 1844, who died in 1863. 
Seven children were born to them, three of whom are now living: John 
W., Elizabeth, and William F., all living in Illinois. In 1865 he was again 
united in marriage to Miss Rachel Wilson, of Mason county, Illinois, who 
died in 1871, at Lexington, leaving three children: Alice, Arthur, and 
Robert. He married his third wife in 1872, leading to the altar Mrs. 
Maggie L. Downing, daughter of Gen. Combs of Lexington, Kentucky. 
An excellent lawyer and an upright judge, his standing among the mem- 
bers of his profession is an enviable one. 

HON. HENRY C. WALLACE. 

Henry C. Wallace was born August 18, 1823, in Woodford county, Ken- 
tucky. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth Wallace, the latter a 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 623 

daughter of George Carlyle, a soldier of the revolution, of Woodford 
county, Kentucky. He is a descendant of the oldest and most honored 
families of the " dark and blood)- ground." His ancestors are traced back 
to Scotland, but in this country they settled first in Virginia. The father 
of Henry C. Wallace, Capt. Henry Wallace, was born in Kentucky, in 
March, 1792, soon after the admission of the state, and is supposed to have 
been the first male child born in the state after its admission into the union. 
He was a soldier of the war with England in 1812, under Gen. William 
H. Harrison, and served with that officer in the north, then known as the 
Northwestern Territory, against the hostile Indians. He removed to Mis- 
souri and settled in Lexington in the spring of 1841, where, in the vicinity, 
he resided until his death in 1875. He was a man of high moral char- 
acter and unspotted integrity, a useful member of society and of the Bap- 
tist church. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years, honored 
and respected by his fellow-citizens and revered by his numerous children 
and grand-children. Hon. Caleb B. Wallace, eldest brother of the subject 
of this sketch, was a member of the senate of Kentucky, in 1850-51, from 
Boyle county. Henry C. Wallace enjoyed the advantages of Sinking 
Spring academy in his native county, and was attending Center college, at 
Danville, Kentucky, when his father emgirated to Missouri; but was 
forced by impaired health, resulting from a long and severe attack of 
typhoid fever, to leave college in 1844. Though his health gradually 
improved after removing to Missouri, it did not permit of his resuming his 
collegiate course, and he continued to prosecute his studies during several 
years with such assistance as he could then secure at Lexington. He then 
taught school in that town for a year and a half, when he commenced the 
study of law with F. C. Sharp, Esq., his brother-in-law, afterward a prom- 
inent lawyer of the St. Louis bar. He was admitted to practice in 1849, 
and after practicing for eighteen months with good success, he attended 
the law school at Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated in 1851. He then 
returned to Lexington, and has ever since been assiduously engaged in the 
study and practice of the law. Besides holding the office of justice of the 
peace and that of city attorney, each from 1849 to 1853, he has never until 
his election to the constitutional convention, which met in 1875, held or 
desired to hold official position. He was elected to the constitutional con- 
vention from the three counties composing the 17th senatorial district — 
Lafayette, Pettis and Saline, by a large and nattering majority. In religion 
he is a Baptist, and member of the first Baptist church of Lexington. He 
is also a Mason and a Knight Templar. Politically, he was an old line 
whig, but since the dissolution of that party he has affiliated with, and is 
a warm supporter of the democratic party. He was married Junel, 1863, 
to Miss Lizzie Sharp, sister of F. C. Sharp, above mentioned and daughter 
of Absalom Sharp, of Christian county, Kentucky. By her he has five 



624 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

children surviving, three boys and two girls, the oldest being in his twelfth 
year. 

THOMAS BATES WALLACE, 

P. O. Lexington. Was born March 31, 1813, near Richmond, Kentucky. 
He is the son of John Wallace and Elizabeth Wallace. His father was a 
native of Albemarle county, Virginia, and born February 17, 1783; his 
grandfather, Josiah Wallace, was born in the same county, in 1739; his 
great-grandfather was born in the same, county, in 1700. The father 
of the latter was from Scotland. Elizabeth Walker was born in Bucking- 
ham county, Virginia, in 1784. Her father, Asaph Walker, was born in 
the same county, 1735; her grandfather was born in the same county, in 
1695; the father of the latter was from England. The mother of Eliza- 
beth Walker was Judith Watkins, born in 1738; her grandmother was a 
Dupuy, and a decendant of the Huguenots. Thomas B. Wallace came, 
with his parents, to Missouri in 1819, and his father settled in Lafayette 
county, five miles southeast of Lexington, when Missouri was only a terri- 
tory. The educational advantages of young Wallace were such as might 
be expected in Missouri at that early day — crude teachers, rude school- 
houses, and wretched equipments. He remained on the farm with his 
father until seventeen years of age, when he began to learn the trade of 
joiner and carpenter. This avocation he followed five years. During 
that time he built the first house erected in Clinton, Henry county, Mis- 
souri, and in 1836, in company with his brother, B. F. Wallace, there 
began the mercantile business, which he successfully prosecuted for twelve 
years. In 1848, the firm moved to Lexington, and continued the business 
of general merchandising. They continued in partnership until 1856, 
when he purchased the interest of B. F. Wallace, and continued to sell 
goods till November, 1860, when he disposed of his stock. In 1861, soon 
after the war began, during the battle of Lexington, he lost property to 
the value of $50,000, consisting of buildings, goods, notes, and other effects. 
In 1862, was appointed United States marshal for the western district of 
Missouri, an office he held for three years. In June, 1865, he opened a 
house in St. Louis, for the transaction of a general commission business, 
but in July, 1866, having been appointed, by President Johnson, marshal 
of the western district of Missouri, he returned to Lexington, and dis- 
charged the duties of that office until 1869. Since 1871, he has been engaged 
n the insurance business. In 1861, at the battle of Lexington, Col. Mulli- 
gan, commanding the federal forces, ordered the house of Mr. Wallace 
burned, as a military necessity. By this destruction he lost nearly all his 
effects. In 1872, congress passed an act to re-imburse him for his loss, 
but, on some account, it met the disapprobation of President Grant, and 
the bill was vetoed. During his residence in Henry county, he was 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 625 

deputy county clerk for two years, and county treasurer for eight years. 
He is a licensed lawyer, and authorized to practice in any court in Mis- 
souri. Mr. Wallace has been twice married. His first wife was Miss 
Ann Elliott, a native of Howard county, Missouri, born January 4, 1825, 
and daughter of John Elliott, a native of Virginia. The mother of Miss 
Elliott was Mary Glassgow, of Virginia. Mr. Elliott and she were mar- 
ried in 1809, in Madison county, Kentucky, and soon after emigrated to 
Missouri, locating near Old Franklin, nearly opposite the present site of 
Boonville, on the Missouri river. By this marriage with Miss Elliott, Mr. 
Wallace had five children, three of whom died in infancy. John Wallace 
was drowned in the Missouri river, at thirteen years of age, and William, 
the other son, died at the age of twenty-two. Their mother died Febru- 
ary 25, 1853. His second marriage was with Mrs. Lucy B. Gains, form- 
erly Miss Briscoe, born November 14, 1825, a daughter of James Briscoe. 
Her father was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1770; her grand- 
father, Ralph Briscoe, was born in the same county, about 1756. Thomas 
B. Wallace and Mrs. Lucy B. Gains were married March 28, 1854. By 
this marriage there were three children: Nettie Briscoe, born October 
17, 1855; Thomas Bates, born November 25, 1858; Hugh Campbell, 
born February 10, 1863. In religious belief, Mr. Wallace is a Cumber- 
land Presbyterian. Mrs. Wallace is a member of the Christian Church. 
Politically, he held the doctrines of the whig party, and voted with that 
party while it existed; since its demise, he has acted with the democrats, 
but has always been a liberal and conservative man. 

GEORGE WILSON, 

was born on the old Sac & Fox Reservation on the Des Moines river, 
Iowa, (now Wapello countv) his grandfather, Gen. Street, being agent for 
the Indians, and his father sub-agent. His father removed to Lexington 
in 1851. In 1862 Mr. Wilson went to the Rocky Mountain country and 
spent a number of years there as a merchant, miner, contractor for rail- 
road and government supplies, and banker. Was during this time made 
Judge of Probate in Laramie county, Dakota Territory, and Senator in 
the Legislature of Wyoming. Whilst residing in the territories he fre- 
quently returned to Lexington and remained for considerable periods. 
Returned and became a permanent resident again in 1877, being chosen 
cashier of the Lafayette County Bank (then called the Aull Savings 
Bank). Succeeded to the presidency of the bank on the death of his 
father March, 1880. Is author of four financial pamphlets: "The Bank 
Notes of the Future "; "The Greenbackers and their Doctrines "; " How 
to abolish the National Bank Systeem"; " National Banking Examined"; 
and has taken an active part in the newspaper controversies on the sub- 
ject, opposing Federal banking and monometalism. Was candidate for 



626 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

United States Senator from Missouri in 1SS1. His father, born in Ohio, 
was a graduate of West Point and an officer in the old army; resigning 
and engaging in banking in. Lexington thirty years. His grandfather, 
Peter Miller Wilson, was receiver of public moneys at Steubenville, Ohio, 
under President Jackson. His great-grandfather, Geo. Wilson, was born 
on shipboard, his parents dying on the same voyage. The wife of the 
latter was daughter of Peter Miller, of Philadelphia, a native of Mann- 
heim, Germany, a scrivener by profession; and Miss Richardson a descend- 
ant of Sir Joseph Richardson, of England. Mr. Wilson's paternal grand- 
mother was a daughter of Col. Thos. Stokely of North Carolina, after- 
wards of Pennsylvania, a man of great wealth and patriotism. Mr. Wil- 
son's mother was daughter of Gen. Joseph Montfort Street of Lunenburg 
county, Virginia, who was grandson of Governor Montfort Stokes of 
North Carolina. Street edited the second paper in Kentucky, and for his 
attacks on Aaron Burr was dangerously wounded in a duel. Street's 
mother was daughter of Thomas Posey, who was colonel in the Virginia 
line in the revolution, General in 1812, lieutenant governor of Kentucky, 
second governor of Indiana, and senator from Louisiana. Mrs. Posey was 
Mary Alexander of Alexandria, Virginia; her first husband was Major 
George Thornton, a cousin of Gen. Washington. Mr. Wilson is about 30 
years of age ; a Democrat of the old Jefferson type, and a progressive in 
politics. He is the founder of the Missouri Bankers' Association. 

GEORGE W. YOUNG, M. D. ,. tvar ^ 

Robert Young, the father of George W., was born in Hockins county, 
Tenn., and was the eldest of 12 children. The subject of this sketch is a 
native of the same state and county; born June 4th, 1821. In 1S34, his 
parents and family moved to Missouri, and located on a farm in Lafayette 
countv, situated five miles south of Lexington, where George W. grew to 
manhood. Being in somewhat straitened circumstances and also desirous 
of obtaining an education, at the age of 20 he joined a corps of government 
survevors, for the two-fold purpose of learning practical surveying and to 
obtain money for the prosecution of his studies. He remained with this 
corps for one year and afterwards alternately taught and attended school 
until 1848, when he commenced the study of medicine by attending a 
course of lectures at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. He after- 
wards entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, one of the 
most noted medical schools of the United States, from which he gradu- 
ated with high honor in the spring of 1851. Returned to Lafayette 
countv and immediately began the practice of his profession in Lexing- 
ton, where, bv his ability and steady application he has rapidly advanced 
to the front rank in the profession. At the breaking out of the war he 
had the leading practice of the city. Although losing considerable prop- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 627 

erty during the progress of the war, the Dr. has succeeded in accumulat- 
ing considerable wealth by devoting himself to his practice. During the 
last three years he has given considerable attention to bee culture, having 
135 stands of the Italian species. In 1862 he was united in marriage to 
Miss Martha A. Barnett, of this countv, a daughter of Joseph Barnett, of 
Madison county, Ky., and a double niece of Judge John F. Rvland, 
deceased. Nine children were born to them, six of whom are living, viz.: 
Mary L., Elizabeth, Rose \V., Albert G.Juliet and Joseph B. 

STEPHEN G. WENTWORTH. 

Mr. Wentworth, president of Morrison & Wentworth's bank, of Lex- 
ington, is a native of Williamstown, Mass., born October 11, 1811. The 
Wentworth family is of English origin, and one of prominence in both 
England and America, three of Mr. W.'s ancestor's having occupied the 
gubernatorial chair in the United States. His father was a veteran of 1S12, 
and a soldier whose record is above reproach. At the earl}- age of 14 
years, and with what education could be obtained bv an attendance upon 
the common schools in that early day, the subject of this brief sketch 
started out to carve for himself a place among the successful devotees 
of the fickle goddess of fortune. His capital was Youth, health and 
energy, an incomplete education, and one dollar and a half. In 1S31 he 
went to Monroe county, Va., and engaged in clerking. Remained there 
until 1S37. when he removed to Saline county, Mo., and located where 
the town of Brownsville — of which he is the founder — now stands. Was 
engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1840 he came to Lexington and 
engaged in clerking, collecting and the real estate business. In 1851 he 
was appointed administrator of public affairs for this countv, which office 
he held until 1864. In 1863 he was elected president of the Farmers' 
bank, which position he held until the institution wound up in 1S69. In 
1865 he became connected with the banking firm of Morrison, Mitchell & 
Co. In 1S6S the firm became known as ' ; Wm. Morrison & Co.," and in 
1S75 it was again changed to " Morrison & Wentworth." Mr. Went- 
worth has been its president since 1S»3S. He has been a member of the 
Presbvterian church since 1S44, of which he has also been a deacon for 
twentv-six years, and an elder for eight years. He has been a trustee of 
the Aull female seminarv for twenty-one years, and president of its board 
for four Years. Is founder of the Wentworth male academy, and presi- 
dent of its board. Has been a Mason for twenty-five years. Mr. Went- 
worth is a man of strict integrity and business enterprise, and in all his 
dealings in public affairs — and their name is legion — naught can be said 
but to his credit. Has always been a strong supporter of the union. April 
IS, 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Kincaid, formerly 
of Union county, Va. She died Oct. 9, 1S64, at Lexington, Mo. Twelve 



628 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

children were born to them, only two of whom are now living, viz.: James 
and Frances J. James Wentworth is a graduate of Central college, Dan- 
ville, Ky., and also of the law department of Harvard university, Cam- 
bridge, Mass. Was U. S. consul at Moscow, Russia. Frances J. is the 
wife of Richard Field, attorney at law, of Lexington. Jan. 21, 1868, Mr. 
W. was again united in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca Bird, nee Gay, of Ken- 
tucky. 

T. J. DULING, 

attorney at law. Mr. Duling was born in Kanawha county, West Vir- 
ginia, May 25, 1857. In 1865 he came with his parents to Lafayette 
county, Mo., and settled on a farm, where he grew to manhood. Was 
educated at the state university, at Columbia, Mo., graduating from the 
academical department in 1878. He then entered the office of Geo. S. 
Rathburn and Shewalter, of Lexington, as a law-student, and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1879. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of 
that profession, in Lexington. Mr. Duling is a young man of talent and 
energy, and will undoubtedly acquit himself with credit in his future prac- 
tice. 

ALEXANDER GRAVES, 

attorney at law, of the firm of Graves & Shewalter, is a native of Jeffer- 
son county, Mississippi, born August 29, 1846. He attended school at 
Danville, Ky., and when the civil war broke out he left school and enlisted, 
in January, 1862, at the age of 15. He entered the 1st Missouri cavalry 
and was engaged in the battles of Mississippi City, Baton Rouge and 
Harrisburg. His regiment was subsequently transferred to the command 
of Gen. Forest, with whom he fought in numerous engagements. At the 
close of the war he returned home and entered Oakland college, of Mis- 
sissippi, from which he graduated in 1867. He then entered the law 
department of the university of Virginia, from which he graduated in 
1869. He then came to Lexington Lafayette county, and engaged in the 
practice of the law, to which he has since given his best energies, the 
result of which has been his taking high rank among the leaders in a 
profession in which it requires the highest of intellectual talent to insure 
success. Was prosecuting attorney of Lafayette county from 1874 to 
1876. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Aull, daugh- 
ter of John Aull, of Lexington, Mo. Three children were born to them, 
named as follows: Alexander, John and Mary M. 

THEODORE GOSEWISCH, 

the subject of this sketch is a native of Hanover, Germany, born July 12, 
1812. He completed a very thorough course of study at Brunswick, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 629 

Germany. In 1834 he emigrated to the United States, stopping one sea- 
son at Baltimore, and then went to Pittsburg, Penn., where he was 
engaged in the mercantile business for three years, after which he went 
to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was so unfortunate as to engage in the 
confectionary trade and lose all his property. Having learned the art of 
oil painting while in Europe, after losing his wealth he engaged in portrait 
painting with a considerable degree of success. Becoming acquainted 
with a major who was engaged in an emigration scheme, organized 
ostensibly for. the purpose of settling Texas, he united his fortunes with 
the major's and started for the Lone Star state. On arriving at New 
Orleans and learning that his passage money, which the major had 
assumed to pay, had not been paid, he became convinced from that fact, 
in connection with other things which had came under his observation, 
that the whole thing was a fraud and the major a swindler. He accord- 
ingly withdrew from the enterprise, pawned his baggage for the purpose 
of paying his passage down, and traded three barrels of crackers (which 
he had brought along, expecting to find a scarcity of bread) for a passage 
up the Red river, to a town where he again engaged in portrait painting, 
at which he was quite successful. He subsequently returned to St. Louis, 
where he remained one season, and then came to Lexington, Missouri 
and re-engaged in the confectionary business, from which he retired with 
considerable wealth at the end of a period ot fifteen years. During the 
war he lost heavily, and soon felt the necessity of again embarking in busi- 
ness. This time he engaged in the drug trade, and from 1863 to 1875 he 
had the leading trade in that line, and again built up his exhausted fortune. 
In 1848 he was married to Miss Cathrine Moore, of Lexington, Mo. 
By this union they have four children, living, viz.: Charles T., who has 
graduated in medicine from St. Louis, and is now traveling in Europe; 
Mary Ida, married and living in Germany; Walter R. druggist; and 
Katie. Mr. Gosewisch has been a member of the Masonic order for thirty 
years. 

GEN. J. H. GRAHAM. 

Gen. Graham was born in Orange county, N. Y., December 5, 1798. 
At the age of five, his parents moved to Logan county Ky., where he was 
raised to manhood. When twenty-two he learned the hatter's trade. At 
the age of twenty-four he was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Har- 
relson, daughter of Jeremiah Harrelson, who died in Jackson county, this 
state, some twenty years ago. He carried on the manufacture of hats 
and farming in Logan county, and then moved to Missouri and settled in 
Lexington in 1830, where he followed his trade some ten years longer, after 
which he moved to his farm, three miles south of town. He lived there 
five years and then moved to his present home in the southern part of 



630 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Lexington. Gen. Graham has been one of the county's most active busi- 
ness men and one of its most useful citizens. He was an acting magis- 
trate a number of years, and filled that office with ability and credit. He 
was elected captain of the state militia about 1831. In 1837 he was pro- 
moted and made colonel of a regiment, and commanded in an expedition 
against the Osage Indians. In 1838 he was made a brigadier general, and 
commanded a brigade in the expulsion of the Mormons from the state. 
Most of his time has been spent in this county in farming, though for sev- 
eral years he was known as one of the early successful merchants of Lex- 
ington. He has been a consistent and devoted member of the Baptist 
church for a third of a century, and has lived in all good conscience before 
his Creator and fellow men. He lost heavily as a consequence of the late 
war, but has still a competency. Though a Union man he did not take 
an active part in the late war, being averse to bloodshed, and especially 
so in regard to the southern people, with whom he has always been iden- 
tified in feelings and interests. His first wife dying, he was again mar- 
ried, the second lady being Miss Elizabeth Harrelson, who died about fif- 
teen years ago. He has raised in all eleven children, and all the survivors 
reside in this county, save a daughter who resides in Jackson county. 
There were three of the Graham brothers who came from Scotland to 
the United States some time before the Revolutionary war. One went to 
the Carolinas, one to Virginia, and one, the general's great-grandfather, 
to the State of New York. Andrew, Mr. Graham's grandfather, lived 
and died in Orange county, and was judge of the circuit court twenty 
years in succession. He was three times married. His first wife was a 
Miss Cain, an English lady, and the last a Miss Hetty Hardenbrook, sis- 
ter to one of the early mayors of New York. Charles the General's 
father, was by the first wife. He was married in Orange county, to Miss 
Jane Beatty, of a prominent New York family. He also raised a large 
and respectable family, only one of whom, the General, settled in Missouri. 

HENRY WILLIAM TURNER, 

Postmaster, Lexington. Was born at Wilton, England, August 2, 1841. His 
parents were Henry and Mary Whitlock Turner. Young Henry came with 
his parents to America in 1849. They came direct from England to Lex- 
ington, Missouri, and first settled in Ray county, where the lad received 
his education in the public schools of Richmond, the county seat. In 
1854 the family removed to Lexington, and have resided here ever since. 
In 1862 Mr. Turner enlisted in the Lafayette county enrolled militia, and 
in 1863 he went into company I, 11th Kansas mounted infantry volun- 
teers, Col. Thomas Ewing's regiment. This command was sent out in 
pursuit of hostile Indians and had some pretty hot work. July 26, 1865, 
company I, numbering about 90 men, started out from the stockade at 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 631 

Platte river, in Montana, in pursuit of a band of Sioux Indians and fell 
into an ambuscade; then in a fight of thirty minutes, the company lost 25 
killed and 11 wounded, before they could get back into the enclosure. 
They were in several other fights with the Indians, but this was the worst 
one. They were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, September 25, 1865, 
at the close of the southern rebellion, and Mr. Turner returned to Lexington. 
In 1867-68 he served as deputy city marshal, and was elected marshal in 
June, 1869. April 30, 1874, he was appointed agent for Lafayette county, 
to represent its interest in the Lexington & St. Louis railroad company — 
a position at that time of grave responsibility and difficulty, as any 
one may see by reading the " Railroad History," of the county, in another 
part of this volume In May, 1874, he bought a half interest in the Lex- 
ington Register newspaper, which he owns yet. July 3, 1866, he was 
commissioned 2d lieutenant, company C, 58th regiment Missouri militia, 
and was afterward commissioned as 1st lieutenant, and adjutant of the reg- 
iment by Governor Fletcher. In March, 1877, he was appointed post- 
master of the city of Lexington, by President Hayes, and was re-ap- 
pointed by President Garfield, in June, 1881. He has always been a 
republican, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Turner was 
married June 16, 1868, to Miss Fleta Carroll, daughter of C. C. Carroll, 
Esq. She was born in Lexington, January 17, 1843. The following chil- 
dren have been born to them: Paul Harry, born June 21, 1869, died 
same day; Mark Carroll, born October 6, 1872; Robert Isaac, born Feb- 
ruary 25, 1875 ; Mary Willie, born July 28, 1878; Margaret Fleta, born 
September 3, 1879. 

A. A. LESUEUR, 

editor of the Leixngton Intelligencer ^ was born in 1842. Was a member 
of Capt. George W. West's company of infantry, on the southwest expe- 
dition, in the fall of 1860. May 8, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Kel- 
ly's company of infantry (confederate), of St. Louis, commanded by Jos. 
Kelly, afterwards promoted, then by Stephen Coleman, who was killed at 
Wilson's creek; then by Capt. CanifF. Mr. Lesueur was promoted to ser- 
geant major of Kelly's battalion, consisting of Kelly's and Rock Cham- 
pion's old companies, and was with them in battles of Boonville, Carthage, 
Wilson's Creek and Lexington. In November or December, 1861, he 
was made 2d lieutenant of Gorham's battery, previously known as Gui- 
bor's. In a few months Gorham resigned, Tilden became captain and 
Lesueur, 1st lieutenant; and at the battle of Helena, July 4, 1863, he (Les- 
ueur) took the men into action with muskets, losing just one-half of the 
men in the terrible fight on " Grave-yard Hill," in which Brig. Gen. L. M. 
Lewis (successor of Gen. Parsons,) lost half of his own regiment and of 
the brigade. In consequence of his steady and heroic action in this day's 



632 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

fight, Lesueur was soon made captain of the battery, and so remained 
until the final surrender at Shreveport in 1865. This battery was always 
with M. M. Parson's brigade of infantry, and was in the battle of Pea 
Ridge, the skirmishes and fights about Shiloh, between Beauregard and 
Buell; the battle of Prairie Grove, skrimishes on the retreat from Fort 
Smith to Little Rock and Helena; was at battles of Mansfield and Pleas- 
ant Hill, Louisiana; it opened the attack on Camden, when Gen. Steele 
was occupying the place; was in the battle of Saline river; fought against 
Steele, and in a number of minor engagements. Capt. Lesueur is the 
present member of the legislature from Lafayette county; is president of 
the State Press Association; and secretary of the Confederate Soldiers' 
Reunion Association of Missouri. He is a member of the Episcopal 
church. The captain is prompt, decisive, energetic and untiring in what- 
ever he undertakes — is thoroughly devoted to his party, his county and 
his state, and always stands up square to the fight for what he believes in. 

HENRY TURNER, 

was born near Sallisbury, in Wiltshire, England, August 25, 1810. Mar- 
ried Miss Mary Whitlock at Wilton Parish, May 21, 1833. Miss Whit- 
lock was born March 22, 1806. Mr. Turner's business in England was 
keeping an ale brewery and hostlery, (hotel). He was a member of the 
Anti Corn Law League, and was associated with Richard Cobden, John 
Bright, and others, in that memorable agitation which forms a waymark 
in modern English history. From about 1846 onward, England was 
flooded with emigration pamphlets, newspapers, circulars, etc., offering 
great inducements for everybody to emigrate to America. He cannot 
tell why, but for some reason, he picked out Lexington, Missouri, as the 
place he would go to and try his fortune in the new world. Seventeen 
families of them clubbed together and chartered a ship in 1849 to carry 
them to Canada, as they wished to avoid the United States seaports, from 
fear of cholera. They came by way of Quebec, Montreal, Buffalo, and 
the lakes, arriving at Chicago in June, 1849. He went from Chicago to 
La Salle by railroad, thence to St. Louis, by steamboat, and thence to Lex- 
ington, hv same means, arriving here in July, a total stranger to every 
living soul and to the ways of the people. Two or three others of the 
English families came here also, but did not find things agreeble, and in a 
few months went back to their native Isle. Mr. Turner determined to 
stay and " tough it through." In 1858, he was elected a member of the 
city council and continued there eight years; then was mayor one year, 
then city attorney one year, and subsequently served nine years as city 
treasurer, from 1872 to 1881. March 14, 1865, he was commissioned cap- 
tain and assistant quartermaster of state militia, by Gov. Fletcher. July 19, 
1865, he was commissioned by President Andrew Johnson as assistant 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 633 

United States assessor, 2d division of 6th district of Missouri, and was in 
this service about six years, or until the internal revenue tax was abol- 
ished. During this time he received a letter from his superior officer 
which speaks volumes for his integrity, efficiency and success as a public 
officer. The letter is here given: 

United States Internal Revenue, Assessor's Office, 
6th Dist. Mo., Kansas City, March 30, 1870. 
Mr. Henry Turner, U. S. Asst. Assessor, Lexington, Mo : 

Dear Sir: — Please accept my thanks for the excellent manner in which 
you have gotten up your annual list for 1870. It is perfect in every res- 
pect, is the first to reach this office, represents every town in your divi- 
sion, and is within a fraction of double in amount that for the year 1869. 
With such officers, the government cannot long remain in debt. I hope 
that you may return many more such favors to the government. 
I have the honor, sir, to remain, 
Yours, etc., 

JOSHUA THORNE, 
Assessor 6th District, Missouri. 

Mr. Turner naturally feels proud of this, and many other evidences 
which prove that he has been faithful and true in every public trust. Mrs. 
Turner died at Lexington, May 21, 1880, aged 74 years and two months. 
Their children were the following: Isabella and Phebe, (twins), born at 
Wilton, England, March 14, 1834. Isabella married Washington Zing- 
ling, of Lexington, Mo., now deceased. Phebe married Henry Switzer, 
of Lexington, now of Kansas City. She died in 1865. Mary Jane, born 
April 22, 1838; married George Matthew, of Dover township, Lafayette 
county. Emma Elizabeth, born Oct. 24, 1839; married Henry Taubman, 
of Lexington, deceased. Henry William, born August 2, 1841 ; married 
Miss Fleta Carroll, of Lexington, and is now serving his second term as 
postmaster. Edwin, born Nov. 9, 1843; not married. Anna, born March 
14, 1846; married S. S. Earle, of Lexington. All of the above children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Turner, at Wilton, in England. Josephene 
was born at Richmond, in Ray county, August 19, 1849. She married 
Mr. Switzer, of Kansas City, former husband of her deceased sister 
Phebe ; and he died in April, 1880. Mr. Turner has 32 grandchildren 
now living, and four have died. 



LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP. 
JAMES S. PRICE, 

postoffice, Lexington, Mo., son of John and Jane Price, who moved from 
Warrensburg, Johnson county, Mo., to St. Louis county, in 1861; then to 
St. Charles county, Ills.; then back to Warrensburg, Mo., in 1866, and in 



634 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 






1872, to this county, living near Dover for several years, and then settled 
in the suburbs of Lexington, Mo. James S. Price was born in Warrens- 
burg, Mo., May 31, 1852. He entered the Jerseyville, Ills., College at 17 
years of age, remaining three years, and at the age of 20, studied medi- 
cine one year at Jerseyville; then read law four years in Warrensburg, Mo., 
feeling that he had not the necessary nerve for dissections. While read- 
ing law, he felt that he was called to preach the gospel. In 1874 he con- 
cluded to preach, and in Dec. 1878, preached his first sermon, and was 
ordained the third Sunday in August, 1879. He was called to Long 
Branch church, where he has been preaching three years, and has built 
up a good congregaiion. He belongs to the Baptist persuasion, and has 
charge of two other congregations. 

UPTON WILSON. 

Mr. Wilson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser, of Lexington town- 
ship: was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky. Was educated at Hanover 
College, Indiana. He came to Missouri in 1837, and settled in Johnson 
county, where he remained until 1877, when he moved to Lafayette 
county, where he has since resided. Mr. Wilson was united in marriage 
in 1855, to Miss Catherine D. Neill, of Lafayette county. They have five 
children, named as follows: Stephen N., Lee F., Charles M., Mathew, 
and Mary. Postoffice, Lexington. 

JUDGE B. D. WEEDIN, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. The subject of this sketch was born in Glas- 
gow, Kentucky, September 24, 1831. His father, Caleb Weedin, is of 
English, and his mother; Eliza S. Moore, of Welsh descent. His father 
was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and died near 
Danville, Kentucky, March 16, 1864. Judge Weedin was raised princi- 
pally in Logan county, Kentucky, when he removed with his parents to 
Danville, Kentucky, where he was chiefly educated, graduating at Center 
College in 1853. Immediately after leaving college, at the early age of 
twenty-two, he was elected county surveyor, which office he resigned to 
move to Missouri, which he did in 1855, and settled in this county, where 
he has lived ever since. He first located in Lexington, and was soon after 
appointed deputy surveyor. He served as deputy one year, was then 
appointed surveyor to fill a vacancy, and was then elected to fill unexpired 
term. The war coming on, his office was vacated by the Gamble govern- 
ment. In 1861 he volunteered in the M. S. G. for three months, and then 
joined the confederate army, and was in the artillery service to the end of 
the war. He was in most of the principal battles; as Lone Jack, Pine 
Bluff, Jenkins Ferry, Prairie Grove, Little Rock, etc., etc. He was never 
wounded or captured. At the close of the war he returned to this county, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



635 



and settled down on a farm, to begin life anew. In the fall of 1874 he 
was elected by the Democracy as associate judge of the county court, but 
resigned, with the whole bench, before his term expired, rather than levy 
an obnoxious tax upon the people. He continued upon his farm until 
1880, when he was again elected county surveyor on the Democratic 
ticket. On the 31st of August, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha A. 
Lankford, also of this county. This lady died January 19, 1879, having 
borne seven children, three of whom are now living, two sons and one 
daughter. Since his wife's death, his sister, Miss Anna E. Weedin, has 
lived with him, leaving her home in Kentucky for that purpose. He is a 
member of the C. P. church, and also a member of the Masonic order. 
His grandfather, Samuel S. Moore, was born at Louisville, Kentucky, 
when that city was only a frontier fort. 

N. C. EWING, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri; son of Robert and Elizabeth Ewing, was 
born in this county September 24, 1830, and here he was also raised and 
educated. His calling is that of a farmer, and all his life has been spent 
on a Lafayette county farm. His parents were natives of Logan county, 
Kentucky, his father first coming to this county in 1818 or 1819. After 
remaining here a short time, he returned to Kentucky, and married in 
1821. He then moved to Missouri and settled in this county, where he 
resided until his death. The subject of this sketch was married April 17, 
1856, to Miss Catherine W. Wilcoxen, of this county, formerly of Fred- 
erick county, Maryland. By this union he had four children, three of them 
living: Anna H., Joel H., and Young. He and his family are members 
of the C. P. church, of which he is a deacon. He is a successful farmer 
and a public spirited citizen. 

FERDINAND D. SMITH, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri; was born in Buford county, Virginia, August 
14, 1832. His father Jno. W. Smith, was an extensive southern trader, 
and died in 1846 in North Carolina, on his way home from a southern 
tour. In 1847 his widowed mother moved with her family to Missouri, 
and settled in Pettis county, where the subject of this sketch lived, with 
her until 1850. In 1850 he went to California, where he remained seven 
years, engaged in mining, and made some money. He returned to Mis- 
souri and settled at Wellington, in this county, where his mother and 
sisters were then living. In 1858 he went to Salt Lake City on a freight- 
ing expedition of Russell & Waddell, as wagon master, in which he was 
absent eighteen months. He then returned to this county, and settled on 
a farm on Texas Prairie. December 13, 1859, he was married to Miss 
Mary E. Van Camp, daughter of William Van Camp, of Lexington, now 



Y 



636 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

deceased. In 1863 he moved to Pettis county, and remained there 
lintil the war closed. In 1867 his wife died, and in 1869 he mar- 
ried again, this time to Miss Matilda H. Young, daughter of 
Ex-Gov. James Young, who was acting governor of Missouri, in 
1844. In 1870 he sold his farm in Pettis county and returned to this 
county, where he has since resided, on a fine farm, six miles southeast of 
Lexington. By his first marriage he had three children, two now living, 
Leslie and Ada Mary. By his second wife he has one child, Sallie Left- 
wich. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church South, 
his first wife was a member of the Christian church. He also belongs to 
the Masonic order. 

REV. HIRAM M. BLEDSOE, Sr., 

deceased. The subject of this sketch, though no longer among the living, 
will long be remembered as among the prominent old settlers of this 
county. He was born in Cumberland county, Ky., in 1798. The exact 
day of his birth is not now known, the record in the old family bible hav- 
ing been destroyed by fire in 1865. • The family is of English origin on the 
paternal, and Irish on the maternal side. When a boy they moved to Bour- 
bon county Ky., where he grew to manhood on a farm, and was educated. 
When still quite a young man he was elected sheriff of Bourbon county, 
and continued to fill that office for many years, and subsequently repre- 
sented the county in the Kentucky legislature. In 1832, he moved to this 
county, and entered an extensive tract of land in this and Cass counties. 
After coming to Missouri, he withdrew from politics, and turned his atten- 
tion more particularly to religion and theological subjects. Having been 
raised in the Christian church, he became a minister of that denomination, 
and has organized many churches in this portion of the state. All the 
latter years of his life were devoted to this work; yet he was a successful 
business man, and managed his large farm admirably. When about 
twenty-one years of age he married Miss Susan T. Hughes, of Paris Ky., 
and became the father of seven children, five sons and two daughters, five 
of whom are now living: — Hiram M. Jr., Joseph, Agnes E., wife of 
Thomas Ingle, of Cass county, Carrie F., wife of E. A. Eddy, also of 
Cass county, and Robert Davis, which last now represents the family on 
the old homestead in this county. Robert D. Bledsoe was married in 
Nov. 1868, to Miss Ottie Perrie, of Lexington, Mo., and has two children 
living. He served four years in the C. S. A., first in his brother Hiram's 
famous battery, and afterwards in a battery commanded by his brother 
Joseph, and was in the battles of Lexington, Prairie Grove, Newtonia, 
Pea Ridge, and in many skirmishes. Hiram Bledsoe, Sr., closed his use- 
ful and eventful life at his home in this county in November 1878, at the 
age of eighty years. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 637 

JOHN P. BEAR, 

P. O. Lexington Mo. Was born in Rockingham county Va., June 8, 
1834, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Bear. In his tenth year he 
moved with his parents to this county and settled on a farm, where he 
was then raised and educated. Soon after he was grown, he and his 
brother William took the management of their father's farm, he being dis- 
abled by rheumatism. By natural inclination he took up the carpenter's 
trade, and he still does his own work in that line. In the fall of 1861, he 
enlisted in the state guard for three months. In 1862, he was taken pris- 
oner at home by the federals, just as he was starting south. He made a 
run for it, but they caught him, and sent him to St. Louis; held him one 
week, and then released him on a bond of one thousand dollars, to secure 
his loyalty. He returned home and remained quiet until he was drafted, 
when he fled to Nebraska, and continued there to the end of the war, 
and then returned to his farm in this county. On the 11th day of Nov. 
1864, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Gray, daughter of Rev. F. R. 
Gray, and has six living children. Thev are both members of the Pres- 
byterian church. He is also a member of the Grange. 

WILLIAM J. BEAR, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Son of John and Elizabeth Bear. Was born in 
Rockingham county Va., March 5, 1821, and having come to this county 
as early as 1844, may be counted as one of the old settlers. Having been 
raised on a farm, on coming to this county he engaged in farming. His 
father was earlv disabled by rheumatism, and he with his younger brother 
took charge of the farm. His father died in 1870. The two brothers 
have bought out most of the heirs, and they both reside on the original 
farm, nine miles southeast of Lexington. In 1861, after the battle of Lex- 
ington he went south with Gen. Price, and was enrolled in Co. B., 6th 
regiment Missouri volunteers C. S. A., and served in the west until the 
winter of 1863, when he was discharged. He was in the battles of Lex- 
ington, Pea Ridge, and a number of lesser note. He then went to Va., 
and enlisted in a company of exchanged prisoners, mostly Missourians, in 
62d Va. regiment of mounted infantry. In the battle of New Market, his 
company was cut to pieces, and the fragments joined a company of inde- 
pendent rangers, and served to the end of the war. He then returned to 
his home in this county. January 6, 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth Rice, daughter of Augustus Rice, a native of Va., now deceased. 
They have only one child living: William. He is a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. 

BB 



638 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

LEWIS P. GREEN, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Is son of Col. Levi Green, who died in 
this county, April, 1875, and who will long be remembered for the prom- 
inent part he played in the county. He was once president of the Farm- 
ers' bank of Lexington, and always took an active part in the politics of 
the county, though he held no political offices. Louis P. Green was born 
in Sumner county, Tennessee, November 3, 1831. His father, Col. Green, 
was married to Miss Betty P. Guerrant, November 22, 1829, she being 
his second wife. When Lewis was about six years old he came with his 
father to this county, and settled on a tract of land seven miles southeast 
of Lexington, where he was raised and educated, partly in Lexington and 
partly by Rev. G. L. Yantis, at Sweet Springs. After quitting school he 
returned to his home and managed his father's farm, until his father's 
death. He now owns 250 acres, including the old homestead. November 
22, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary Murrell, daughter of the late 
Samuel Murrell, of Lexington, Missouri. Burdened with his own family, 
his aged parents, and many slaves, he could not enter the southern army, but 
participated in the battle of Lexington. He remained quietly on his farm 
during the war. One of his brothers died in the army. Since the war he has 
given his attention to the management of his farm, and has taken an active 
part in politics. His family are members of the Presbyterian church, of 
which his father was a zealous member. He belongs to no secret order, 
unless the Patrons of Husbandry may be called such. He has had seven 
children of whom six are now living. 

GEORGE. B. GORDON, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri, is a native of this county, and was born on the 
old Fulkerson homestead, now known as the Ramey farm, six miles south- 
east of Lexington, January 25, 1848. He was raised and educated in this 
county. During the war he was at school, and hence took no part in the 
bloody struggle. He was raised a farmer and pursued no other calling. 
His father, Linn B. Gordon, lives in this county, was a farmer before him, 
and has raised his sons to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty 
George began to farm on the farm where he now lives, known as the 
Joseph Shelby place. On the 24th day of December, 1869, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Ann Shelby, daughter of Joseph B. Shelby, a cousin of 
Gen. Joe O. Shelby, whose fame in the war was so great, and so well 
known to all Missourians. They have four children, all living. He 
belongs to the Christian church at Dover, as does also his wife. He is a 
mason, and politically, a democrat. For so young a man, he has already 
established an eminent character for integrity, sagacity, and industry, 
and has proven himself a successful farmer. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 639 

LINN B.SHELBY, 
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. The subject of this sketch is a cousin of 
Gen. Joe Shelby, whose name so frequently occurs in the history of the 
war, and was born on the old Thomas Shelby homestead, six miles east of 
Lexington, on the Dover. road, April 13, 1859. He is the son of Thomas 
and Nancy Shelby — his mother's maiden name being Gordon; her father 
having emigrated here at a very early day. Mr. Shelby was raised and 
educated in this county; and on the 17th day of October, 1879, was mar- 
ried to Miss Lillie M. Kelley, daughter of Mr. James E. Kelley, also of this 
county. They have one child, a son, named Mark Hughes Shelby. Both 
he and his wife are members of the Christian church, membership at Lex- 
ington. He is now living on a farm three miles from Page City, and has 
a bright future before him. 

THOMAS B. CAMPBELL, 

P. O. Dover, Mo. Was born in Huntsville, Ala., June 16, 1824. His 
parents, James and Ann Eliza Campbell, came to this county at an early 
day, and his father died here in Dover in 1872, and his mother is still liv- 
ing in this county. The maiden name of the latter was Jennings, daughter 
of David Jennings, one of the pioneer settlers of this county. When 
Thomas was about two years of age he moved with his parents to this 
county, settling on the place where he now resides, where he was raised. 
He was educated in the county and at the State University in Columbia, 
Mo., where he graduated in the class of 1851. Leaving college, he 
returned home and went to farming in this county. In the war he was 
in hearty sympathy with the South, but took no active part in the war. 
He remained quietly and was never so much as arrested during the entire 
war. Jan. 15, 1856, he was married to Miss Sallie M. Hicks, daughter of 
A. B. Hicks, of Fayette, Howard county, Mo. They have had five child- 
ren, four of whom are now living — three sons and one daughter. He is a 
member of the Christian church and also his wife. He is a Mason, with 
fellowship at Dover. He has a fine farm of six hundred acres in the best 
part of the county, and takes great interest in the stock business. He 
stands high as a man of integrity and honor, and is an enterprising and 
public-spirited citizen. 

ROBERT JACKSON SMITH, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch is one of the old citizens 
of this county; was born in Caldwell county, Ky., April 14, 1815. He is 
the son of Robert and Lucy Smith, his mother's maiden name being Gor- 
don. He lived in Caldwell county, Ky., until he was about sixteen years 
of age, and was principally educated there. In the fall of 1831 he moved 
with his widowed mother to this county, and in 1833 he settled on the 



640 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

farm on which he now resides, seven miles southeast of Lexington. His 
father died shortly before his birth, and his mother never remarried. In 
January, 185S, she died in this county. On the 12th of Feb., 1844, he was 
married, for the first time, to Miss Susan C. Thornbrugh, a native of Vir- 
ginia, who had recently moved to Missouri. She lived about five years 
and died Jan. 21, 1849. Subsequently he married Miss Mary C. Nowlin, 
of Ray county, Mo. There was only one child, a son, by the first mar- 
riage, who died in infancy. By the second marriage he has six children 
living — five daughters and one son — Lucy C, wife of John P. Ardinger, 
of Aullville, Mo.; Susan E., wife of Chas. W. Ford, of this county; Mary 
Alice, wife of Berry Hughes, of Ray county, Mo.; Thomas B., Sallie C. 
and Fannie B. Though he sympathized with the South, Mr. Smith 
remained quietly on his farm during the war. By keeping silence he man- 
aged to get along without much disturbance save some loss of personal 
property. Except two years spent in Jackson county, he has always lived 
in this country since 1831. He is a Presb}-terian, and his wife a Mission- 
ary Baptist. Mr. Smith stands high as a citizen and as a Granger, and 
has taken an active part in politics. He is a Democrat. 

WM. T. HAYES, 

P. O. Lexington. The subject of this sketch is a native of Maryland, 
where he was born in Montgomery county, Feb. 18, 1821. His father^ 
Abraham Hayes, deceased, moved to this county in 1849, and died here 
in 1861. His mother, Elizabeth E. Hayes, was a daughter of Col. Wm. 
Tillord, a French Huguenot, who settled on a plantation on Chesapeake 
Bay and worked a large number of slaves. He was a colonel in the Revo- 
lutionary war and gave liberally of his means to the cause of the colonies. 
Mr. Hayes' grandfather on the paternal side was from Wales. He was 
raised and educated in his native county, and came with his father to this 
county in 1849; and this has been his home ever since. When of age he 
began clerking in Georgetown, D. C, in a dry goods store. He then 
went to merchandising in Monocacy on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. 
When he came to this county he went to trading. He then purchased a 
farm, which he has increased to 560 acres of splendid land, about 2 miles 
east of Lexington. His residence commands a fine view of the river, and 
of Ray and Carroll counties. For several years he was engaged in 
freighting for Russell, Waddell & Majors to 1862. From then to the end 
of the war he was employed in freighting and in cattle trading for himself. 
He therefore took no part in the war, though his sympathies were all with 
the lost cause. After the waf he returned to this county and devoted 
himself to farming. He was married July 18, 1865, to Miss Alice Belle 
Ward, daughter of Allen D. Ward, formerly of Mason county, Ky. They 
have three children, all sons, living: William T., Franklin Ward and Karl 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 641 

Wilson. He is a member of the Grange. Mrs. Hayes is a member of 
the Christian church. 

AUSBURN S. MULLENIX, 
postoffice Lexington, Mo. Was born in Pendleton District, S. C, April 
21, 1808. His parents, Joseph and Sallie Mullenix, moved to Tennessee 
when he was three years old, and there he was raised and educated. He 
was raised on a farm, and has followed that calling all his life. December, 
1842, he moved to this county, where he has lived since, and owns 530 
acres of land. He took no part in the war, but had two sons in the con- 
federate army. One of them— Henry— died from disease contracted in 
camp. He was married, the first time, in 1822, to Mrs. Nancy Bratton, 
who lived only four years thereafter, and died in 1826. He again married 
in 1829, to Miss Tirzah Dale, daughter of Rev. Wm. Dale, of Tennessee. 
He had three children by his first marriage and seven by his last. Of 
these, six children, one son and five daughters, are now living. He is a 
member of the Baptist church in Lexington. His wife belongs to the 
same. Before the war he served as justice of the peace for four years- 
He expects to live in this county the rest of his life. 

JOHN R. FORD, 

was born at Danville, Ky., May 8, 1801. He is the son of Charles and 
Elizabeth Ford, natives of Virginia. His father died when he was but 
11 years old. He was raised by his mother, who never again married, 
receiving his education at Danville. He remained there until 18 years old. 
He then went to Natchez and engaged in raising cotton. He lived there 
until 1835, being married Dec. 1, 1831, to Caroline, daughter of Col. Jas. 
Foster, who died in 1833. They had nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, all living at this time except one son, who was killed during the 
war. His name was John R., Jr., being 23 years old at the time he 
enlisted. He received a gun-shot wound near Corinth, from which he 
died. There were two other sons in the confedrate army, one of whom, 
James Foster, was severely wounded at Gettysburg, from which he recov- 
ered. Charles W., the youngest, enlisted in '63, being at the time only 16 
years old, serving under Gen. Shelby. On leaving Natchez, Mr. Ford 
returned to Danville, and engaged in farming until 1858. He then moved 
to Pettis county, Mo., and there settled. He was living there at the time 
the war broke out. Before the close of the war Mr. Ford removed to 
Lexington, and remained three years with his son-in-law, the Rev. L. G. 
Barbour, who was president of the Elizabeth Aull college,, and now of 
Central university, of Richmond, Ky. In '65 Mr. Ford bought the home- 
stead of Gen. Shields. They have one married daughter still residing in 
Lexington — Carrie, wife of Xenophon Ryland ; also one in St. Louis, wife 



642 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

of E. L. Breding. Mr. Ford and wife are both members of the Presby- 
terian church, and have lived together in married state for over half a cen- 
tury. 'Politically Mr. Ford is a life-long democrat of Andrew Jackson 
school, and cast his first presidential vote for that old battle-scarred hero. 

MAJ. A. G. YOUNG. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Hawkins county, east Tennes- 
see, Sept. 26, 1794, remaining in the county of his birth until 1830, when 
he moved to Missouri, settling in Lafayette county, where he now resides. 
Maj. Young served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Cook. Maj. Young 
acquired his title from having been a major of the 1st battalion of the 4th 
regiment of Tennessee militia. He also held the rank of captain in the 
Black Hawk war, but was never called out. He served in the Mormon 
war, in 1838. Mr. Young was too old to take part in the last war, but he 
had two sons in the confederate army; he also had one son in the Mexican 
war under Gen. Doniphan. Mr. Young was first marritd on the 22nd of 
July, 1824, to Miss Elizabeth McChesney, of Virginia. Ten children were 
born of this marriage, seven sons and three daughters, five of whom are 
now living. His first wife died Dec. 30, 1845, and he was again married 
on Dec. 7, 1874, to Miss Sarah A. Hogan, daughter of Gen. David Hogan. 
Maj. Young and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, as are all 
his children. 

JOHN CATRON, 

was born in White county, Tenn., Feb. 29, 1812. At the age of seven his 
parents moved to Saline county, Mo. Remaining there a short while 
they moved to Lafayette county and settled on the farm now occupied by 
Gen. Jo. Shelby. Mr. Catron learned the trade of brickmaking and fol- 
lowed it for some thirty years. The farm on which he now resides con- 
sists of 530 acres, and is located about four miles from Lexington. Mr. 
Catron was in the Mormon war in 1838, and was present when Smith, the 
prophet, surrendered. Mr. Catron took no part in the civil war of '61-'65, 
but had one son, Thomas, who served the entire four years in the confed- 
erate army. Mr. Catron, being southern in sentiment, lost heavily in 
slaves. Mr. C. was married to Miss Mary Fletcher, Feb. 3, 1833, nine 
children being the result of this marriage, five sons and four daughters, 
all living at this writing except two. Mr. Catron is one of the oldest set- 
tlers in the county, having lived here for 63 years. He is honored and 
respected by all, and has proved himself a good and valuable citizen. 

JAMES C. KELLY. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Madison county, Alabama, 
August 4, 1829. His parents moved to Missouri, in 1831, and settled in 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 643 

Cooper county, and there James was raised and educated. During the 
war he remained in Cooper county, and engaged in the livestock trade, 
at which he was very successful. In 1867 he moved to Lafayette county, 
and in 1875 he purchased what is known as the Lightner farm, three miles 
south of Lexington, where he resides at the present time, it being one of 
the best improved farms in the county. Mr. Kelly was married to Miss 
Maria L. Duncan, April 3, 1851. They have eleven children, five sons 
and six daughters, all living, except one daughter who died in 1859. 
Mr. K. and wife are members of the Christian church; he also belongs to 
the Masonic fraternity. Mr. K. is a good neighbor, an industrious citizen 
and has well earned his success. 

HENRY C. BRANCH, 
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Son of Henry B. and Susan C. Branch. 
Was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, February 15, 1827, where he 
was raised and educated, to the age of fifteen years, when he came with 
his parents to this state. His father died in Carrollton, Missouri, July 17, 
1842. His mother then moved to this county, but after living here two 
years returned to Carroll county. Mr. Branch spent several years, first 
in Platte county, Missouri, and then in Leavenworth county, Kansas, and 
eleven years in Saline county, Missouri. In 1877 he returned to this 
county, and settled about five miles from Lexington, where he has a 
splendid farm of 180 acres. In 1851 he married Miss Dorothy Perry, of 
Platte county, Missouri, by whom he has six children, living. March 11, 
1872, his wife died. He w r as married again December 20, 1873, to Miss 
Emma Wilcoxen, of this county, by which marriage he has three chil- 
dren. He is a member of the C. P. church. 

CHARLES H. BARRON, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in the state of Georgia, in 1835. 
While Charles was quite young his father, Gustavus Barron, moved from 
Georgia to Carroll county, Missouri, and settled in what is known as the 
" sugar tree bottom," in 1847, where Charles was raised and educated. 
In 1871 he began the grocery business at Hardin, Ray county, Missouri, 
and continued there until 1874. He had, previous to this, learned the drug 
business in the drug store of Dr. Moseby, at Richmond, Missouri. Leav- 
ing Hardin he came to this county and engaged in farming for several 
years. In 1877 he quit farming and entered into the drug business in 
Lexington, on a small capital, and succeeded so well that in 1880 he pur- 
chased property on Franklin street, and is now engaged in both the drug 
and grocery business. He was married on the 6th of June, 1871, to Miss 
Hattie Pritchard, and to this union have been born six children, all living. 
He belongs to the Methodist church, south, and his wife to the Christian 
church. He is also a mason. 



644 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

STEWART SUMMERS, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. A native of Kentucky. Was born in Mont- 
gomery county, Kentucky, January 27, 1827. His father, Caleb Sum- 
mers, who died in the summer of 1880, moved to this county in 1836. 
He had been a farmer in Kentucky, and Stewart was raised to a farmer's 
life. The family settled in Washington township, in this county, where 
he was mostly educated. Early in life he learned the value of money, and 
habits of economy, and when he became of age, he had already saved 
several hundred dollars in money. Every cent of this was expended in 
aiding his father, who had become involved; and when he started out in 
life he had just seventy-five cents and a horse. He then went to Wyan- 
dotte, sold his horse for seventy-five dollars, and obtained a permit to 
trade with the Wyandotte Indians. In 1S51 he bought land in this county 
and began farming, which he continued until 1863, when he began the 
grocery business in Lexington. In 1868 he moved into the new store he had 
built on Franklin street, where he now is. In 1850 he married Miss Rachel 
A. Reed. Has no children living. Both he and his wife belong to the 
Christia church. His farm lies near Odessa. Few men can show a bet- 
ter record than the subject of this sketch. 

GEORGE F. KING, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, 
October 23, 1842. When he was quite young his parents moved to St. 
Joseph, Missouri, but after a short residence there, moved to this county, 
where George was raised and educated in Lexington. At the age of 
thirteen he was apprenticed to Mr. John A. Graham, of Lexington, to 
learn the tinner's trade, where he remained three years, and then one year 
with Wm. Morrison. He enlisted in company F, 10th Missouri vol- 
unteer cavalry, U. S. A., and served during the war. He was in many 
battles, fights and skirmishes, but was never either wounded or taken 
prironer. After the war Mr. King returned to Lexington and began 
working at his trade. In 1868 he entered into the stove and tinware 
business upon his own account, on Franklin street, Lexington, Missouri, 
where he now is, and has a full stock, a first class trade, and is well 
insured. In 1875 he was married to Miss Caroline Leichenring, of Lex- 
ington, by whom he has two children living. He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, to the Knights of Honor and to the A. O. U. W. 

HENRY WIKLER, 

Post office, Lexington, Mo. Is a native of Saxony, Germany where he 
was born July, 15, 1829; was raised and educated in Leipsig, and there 
learned his trade of furniture making. In 1849 he came to America and 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 645 

first stopped in New York, where he worked at his trade for several 
years, then spent a year or so in St Louis, and then, in 1853, he came to 
this county and settled in Lexington where he has since lived. Here, with 
his younger brother, who followed him to this country, he engaged in the 
manufacture of furniture. They have gone on steadily enlarging their 
trade and facilities, until now they have an extensive establishment for the 
manufacture of all kinds of furniture, in which they employ about forty- 
fivt men. He was married August 3, 1854 to Miss Eliza Wilker, who has 
borne him six children, all living, and the oldest daughter married to Mr. 
John Daehler. Mr. Wikler belongs to the Lutheran church and is also a 
mason. 

GUSTAV GRUBER, 

Post office Lexington, Mo.; one of the few business men in Lexington 
who can boast of that city as his birthplace. He was born in Lexington 
Sept. 24, 1S54, where he was raised and educated. He was reared to the 
grocery business, his father having for years been engaged in that busi- 
ness. After he was grown he spent two years clerking in the wholesale 
grocery house of Young & Jones, St. Louis, and for a time was with the 
wholesale house of Bargon & Brockoff. He then returned to Lexington 
and embarked in the grocery line with a younger brother, under style of 
G. Gruber & Bro., which continued four years. In 1878 Gustav bought 
out his brother, and since then has been alone. He moved to Franklin 
street soon after dissolving with his brother, and has now a large and 
steadily growing trade. He is one of the most enterprising merchants in 
the city, and has a business standing unusual for so young a man. 

JOHN POWELL, 

Post office Lexington, Mo.; is a native of Ireland and was born in Tip- 
perary county, in 1836, where he was raised and edcucated. He was 
reared to the grocery business, though his father, George Powell, was a 
farmer in Ireland. In 1863 he left Ireland and came to the United States. 
He landed in New York, where he was in the grocery trade for about one 
year. He then went to Canada and engaged in the same business. In 
1871 he came to Lexington in this county, and entered at once in the gro- 
cery business and has continued it ever since — indeed was never engaged 
in any thing else. He is located on Franklin street and is doing a heavy 
business, and carries about $10,000 in stock. In 1871 he was married in 
Lexington to Miss Mary Powell, a lady of the same name, but no relation. 
They have one child, a daughter, named Mattie P. Both he and his wife 
are members of the Episcopal church. He belongs to no secret order and 
is one of the substantial and reliable business men in the city. 



646 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

GARLAND C. GRAHAM, 

Post office Lexington, Mo. ; was born in Lexington, in this county, on the 
19th of February, 1839. He is a son of J. H. Graham, whose biography 
appears elsewhere in this work. He was raised and educated in the city 
of Lexington. He learned the trade of tinner with his brother who car- 
ried on a shop in Lexington. He then went to Kansas City and worked 
journey work — then traveled in several states, He then opened a shop in 
the tin and stove business in Richmond, Mo., soon after taking J. B. 
Nichols into partnership. He then sold out to his partner and returned to 
Lexington, where he worked until 1873, and then went to Colorado. In 
1873 he returned to Lexington and opened a tin and stove shop on Main 
street on a small capital. In one year he took into partnership Geo. F. 
King, which continued over four years. The firm then dissolved and he 
moved to Franklin street, where he now carries a large stock and does a 
remunerative business. He was married in this county, Dec. 10, 1870 to 
Miss F. Smarr, daughter of Wm. T. Smarr, of this county, and by which 
union he has two children living — Lee C and Maud. He is a member of 
the Baptist church. 

JOHN GOEHNER, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri; was born in Wittenburg, Germany, June 28 
1833, where he was raised and educated. He learned the trade of Mar- 
ble cutter under his father, Jacob Goehner, who carried on a shop in the 
City of Tuebinger, Wittenburg. At the age of twenty he came to this 
country, landing in New York in 1853. The first five years he spent in 
working at his trade in different parts of the union. In 1859 he came to 
this county, and settled in Lexington, where, after working journey work 
for a year or more, he set up shop for himself in 1860. He worried 
through all the depression and hard times of the war, and since that time 
has done a good, and constantly increasing business. He now owns a 
good property in the city of Lexington; has a neat building on Franklin 
street, and is doing a thriving business. May 4, 1865, he was married, 
in Lexington, to Miss Margaret Soellner, daughter of John Soellner, by 
which union they have three children living, two sons and one daughter. 
He is a member of the Lutheran church, and also of the Odd Fellows. 

CHARLES W. LOOMIS, 

postoffice, Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch is one of the enter- 
prising business men of Lexington; was born in the city of Madison, Wis- 
consin, Oct. 1, 1853. His father, Alexander Loomis, moved to S Joe, Mo. 
in 1856, and after a short stay there moved to Lexington, in this county, 
which has been the home of the family ever since; both father and son, at 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 647 

this time, being engaged in business in Lexington. Charles was raised 
here, and also received his education here.. At the age of fifteen, he 
entered as clerk in the drug house of W. B. Tevis, where he remained five 
years. In 1874 he began business for himself under style of J. A. Quarles 
& Co., which firm had a successful business career of five years, and then 
sold out, and Mr. Loomis started in the drug business alone, on Franklin 
street, where he is at present, and keeps constantly on hand a full and 
complete stock of first-class drugs, etc. Mr. Loomis has been a success 
so far, and there is no fair way to judge the future except by the past and 
present. 

EDWARD T. NICHOLSON, 

postoffice, Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch has been identified 
with the manufacturing interests of Lexington for many years, and still 
ranks among the leading business men of the city. He was born in Lex- 
ington, North Carolina, Jan. 25, 1837, but was raised in Lexington, Mo. 
His father, Edward Nicholson, had been an overseer in North Carolina, 
but died when Edward T. was but five years old. After his father's 
death, his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Trotter, married 
again to a Mr. Garrett Freeland ; and the whole family moved to Lexing- 
ton, Mo., in 1846, where the subject of this sketch has lived ever since. 
Here helwas chiefly raised, educated, and learned his trade, that of wagon 
and plow making. In 1863 he volunteered and raised a company which 
he commanded; company E, of Rathbun's regiment, C. S. A. This com- 
pany being fractional, was soon consolidated with another. He surren- 
dered in 1865. He returned to Lexington, and set earnestly to work to 
recover his broken fortunes. He worked as he could until 1868, when he 
entered into partnership with Mr. Chas. Bartels, in the manufacture of 
wagons, plows, etc., in a building which they erected on Cedar street, 
Lexington. Their business has grown rapidly with the growth of agri- 
cultural interests in this county. They soon found their building too small 
and purchased the large brick on Franklin street, which is well suited to 
their wants. Since 1880, they have handled a large stock of wagons and 
farm machinery, in addition to their own work. He was married in July 
1867, to Miss Clara Fall, daughter of John C. Fall, of Lexington. They 
have five children living; He is a member of the Methodist church, 
south, and a Mason, and his wife is a member the Baptist church. 

WILLIAM GEORGE EGGLESTON, 

of Eggleston & Co., P. O. Lexington, Missouri; one of the prominent 
business men of the city of Lexington, Missouri; was born in Loudon 
county, Virginia, December 10, 1849. His father, Rev. Wm. G. Eggles- 
ton, is a minister of the Methodist Church. He was born and raised in 



648 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Baltimore, Maryland, and is now living, at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 
and is still employed in his ministerial labors. The subject of this sketch, 
being the son of a Methodist minister, did not live very long at any one 
place, being subject to frequent removals. He was chiefly reared, how- 
ever, in Winchester, Virginia, and educated at Prince George's, Maryland. 
The war broke out just in time to cut his education short. By reading, 
and observation he has done much to make up that of which the war 
deprived him. He came to Lexington, in this county, in 1873, and began 
clerking in the dry goods house of Wilson & Hutchinson, where he con- 
tinued about four years. He then clerked for Davis & Allstadt, in the 
boot and shoe trade, for a year or more. Having then established his 
character and acquaintance, he purchased the boot and shoe business 
of W. J. Eckle, deceased, and engaged in business upon his own account, 
in 1877. Since then, by strict integrity and business habits, he has built 
up a large and growing trade. At the present time, the house carries an 
average stock of about $10,000. In 1880, Mr. Eggleston took into part- 
nership Mr. Robert E. Smith, of Lexington, who had formerly clerked 
for him. Messrs. Eggleston & Smith are young men, and comparatively 
new to Lexington. They stand now among the foremost firms in the 
city. 

THOMAS H. BAYLESS, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in Rappahannock county, Vir- 
ginia, August 27, 1827. In 1835, he moved with his parents to Garrett 
county, Kentucky, where they lived until 1843. When he was fourteen 
years old, his father died. In consequence of ill health, he received but a 
limited education. In 1843, he moved, with his mother and family, to this 
county, where he entered some land, and farmed it until 1847. He then 
clerked in a store in Lexington one year, and in 1848, engaged in mer- 
chandising at Utica, Livingston county, Missouri, where he continued until 
1851, and then went to Richmond, Missouri, where he carried on a store, 
and at the same time, one in Camden, and dealt largely in tobacco, and 
feeding stock — some years feeding as high as 200 cattle. In 1869, he 
closed out his extensive business, and came to Lexington, in this county 
where he engaged in the hotel business — purchasing the well-known City 
Hotel, of which he is now sole proprietor. Beginning life with a very smal* 
capital, by energy and management he has accumulated a fortune of $30,- 
000. In 1869, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hudgens, daughter of 
Judge William Hudgens, of Lexington, Missouri, formerly of Virginia. 
They have had ten children, six of them living: John H., Fannie P., 
Bessie, Daisie B., Samuel, and Blanche. He has been a Mason for 
twenty-two years, and a member of the Methodist Church, South, since 
1865. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 649 

JOHN S. BLACKWELL, 
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in Anderson county, state of New 
York, January 8, 1832. When he was only two years old his parents 
both died, and he was raised by his sisters. On settlement of his father's 
estate, it was found insolvent, he having lost heavily, by having to pay 
security debts. He was thus left to make his own way in the world. In 
1850, at the age of eighteen, he went to California, and engaged in min- 
ing, trading, etc., and at the same time commenced reading law, until 
1862, when he was admitted to the bar, at Placerville, California. Then 
went to Nevada, then to New Mexico, then to Mexico, and, in 1865, came 
to this county, and located in Wellington, In 1878, he was elected prose- 
cuting attorney for Lafayette county, and in 1880, was re-elected to the 
same office. Since 1878, he has resided in Lexington, the county seat. 
This office, of prosecuting attorney, he has filled with honor to himself, 
and credit to his constituency. In 1872, he was married to Miss Bettie M. 
Rogers, of this county, daughter of Elisha Rogers, one of the old settlers 
of this county. By this union he has had five children, four of them now 
living: Horace. F., George P., Mary K., and Prentice P. 

DR. JAMES G. RUSSELL, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in New York in 1824, where he was 
raised, and received both his literary and his professional education. In 
1852 he moved to this county and settled in the city of Lexington, where 
he has continued for thirty years in the practice of his chosen profession, 
always holding a front rank with the physicians of Lafayette county. In 
1861 he joined the state troops, and was appointed surgeon of Shelbv's 
command. After the battle of Carthage he was assigned to Clarkson's 
regiment in Raines' devision, then brigade surgeon August, 1861, and then 
appointed by Gen. Price medical director of the hospitals of the depart- 
ment of Springfield. In 1862 he was made medical director of the Indian 
Territory, and changed to different departments to the close of the war. 
All of which positions he held with honor to himself, and discharged his 
duties to the satisfaction of his superior officers. In 1852 he was married 
to Miss Sarah M. Fish back, of this county, formerly of Kentucky, and 
has two children living — Charles J., and James G., Jr. 

F. R. NEET, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Jessamine county, Ky., August, 1833, 
where he was raised and educated. At the age of fifteen, in Lexington, 
Ky., he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1851 he came to St. Louis and 
worked at his trade; and the next year, 1852, came to Lexington, in this 
county, where he has since lived, and worked at his trade until 1861, when 



650 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

he was ordered to leave on account of his union sentiments. He went. In 
April, 1861, he enlisted in Company " K," 1st Missouri Volunteers, Col. 
Frank Blair, for three months. Before his time was out he had a cap- 
tain's commission to recruit a company for three years. He came to Lex- 
ington to raise his company, but was cut off from St. Louis, and assigned 
to 14th Regiment Missouri Volunteers, was at the battle of Lexington, 
and captured, was reorganized and sent to New Mexico to fight Indians. 
Being exchanged, they were ordered back from Fort Riley to fight 
rebels, and assigned to the 8th Kansas Regiment, and sent to Pittsburg 
Landing, and arrived there the morning of the battle of Shiloh. They 
were cut to pieces in the battle, having eight captains killed. In 1862 he was 
ordered to raise a company for the 10th Missouri Cavalry, as senior cap- 
tain of the regiment. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of major of 
the regiment, and was in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, 2d, with Grant at 
Vicksburg, and under Gen. Grierson until December, 1863, then transfer- 
red to the army of the Potomac, then to Alabama, to Gen. Wilson's com- 
mand, where he continued to the end of war. Twice wounded. Returned 
to Lexington, and was deputy sheriff for several years, and has since fol- 
lowed gardening. September 6, 1868, he was married to Miss Ella Bethel, 
of Lexington, Mo., and has one child — Alva. 

C. M. PIRNER, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Saxony, Germany, May 6, 1829, 
where he was raised and educated (especially in chemistry). In 1852 he 
came to the United States and landed in New Orleans. The same year 
he settled in St. Louis and worked four years in a wholesale drug house. 
In 1856 he came to Lexington, in this county, and engaged in his present 
business of druggist and apothecary, and is now the oldest drug house in 
Lexington, and doing a good business. In 1861 he enlisted in Company " E," 
14th Regiment Missouri Volunteers, and was in the battle of Lexington, 
where he was wounded and taken prisoner. By his wound he was dis- 
abled from further service. In 1860 he was married to Miss Mary Meyer, 
daughter of Francis Meyer of Lexington, and who was the first child born 
in Lexington of German parents. He has four children, Morris E., Adde- 
line, Caroline, and Lydia. Mrs. Pirner died September 25, 1873. 

JOHN W. MENG, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Callaway county, Mo., October 6, 
1847. In 1852 he moved with his parents to this county, where he was 
educated in a private academy. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted 
in Company " B," Gordon's regiment of Shelby's command, and served 
to the end of the war. Was in the battles of Big and Little Blue, Mine 
Creek, Newtonia, and many other fights. After the war he took a thor- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 651 

ough course of dentistry, and graduated at the Baltimore college of den- 
tistry in 1870. He then located in Lexington, in this county, and has 
practiced ever since. In 1874 he was married to Miss Annie Carter, of 
this county, and has one child, Warren Douglas. 

JOHN E. QUANDT, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Prussia, April 13, 1832, where he 
was raised and educated, and lived until he was twenty-eight years 
old. He there learned his trade of wagon-making. In 1860 he came to the 
United States, and located in Lexington, in this county, where he has since 
lived and carried on his trade. In 1861 he enlisted in the 14th regiment, 
Missouri Volunteers, and participated in the battle of Lexington, where 
he was badly wounded in the right arm, by which he was disabled from 
further service. In 1863 he was married to Miss Mehl, of Lexington, 
Mo., and has two children — Mary and Lillie. He is now engaged in black- 
smith and wagon-making. 

R. T. JESSE, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Caroline Co.,Va.,Jan. 26, 1S38, where 
he was raised on a farm and was educated in the University of Virginia. 
When the war broke out he enlisted May 1, 1861, in Co. F., 30th Virginia 
Infantry, Pickett's division C. S. A., and continued in service to the end 
of the war. Was engaged in the battles of Manassas, Bull Run, Seven 
Days' Fight, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilder- 
ness, and others too numerous to mention. He surrendered with Gen. 
Lee. He then returned home and followed teaching. Taught one year 
in Virginia, two years in Alabama and six years in Kentucky. In 1874 
he came to this county and engaged in farming for several years. In 1878 
he moved to Lexington and clerked two years, and in December, 1880, 
entered into the grocery business, in which he is at present engaged, and 
is doing a flourishing business. He is a Mason and is secretary of the 
Lodge. He is also N. G. of the Lodge I. O. O. F. In November, 1874, 
he was married to Mrs. S. C. Perkins, formerly Miss Early, of Kentucky. 
They are both members of the Baptist church. 

JOHN E. BASCOM, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Brown county, Ohio, April 7, 1818, 
where he lived until fifteen years old on a farm and was educated at 
Augusta College, Kentucky. From 1837 to 1847 he was engaged in 
merchandising in different towns in Kentucky. In 1847 he came to Mis- 
souri and located in Lexington, this county, and engaged in the drug busi- 
ness, which he continued to carry on until 1864, having accumulated a 
handsome competency. In 1866 to 1868 he was deputy sheriff' and col- 
lector of Lafayette county. Since then he has been engaged in farming. 



652 HISTORY OF LAFAVETTE COUNTY. 

In 1844 he was married to Miss Osee T. Chinn,of Mason county, Ky., by 
whom he has had four children, three living: Eli C, John L. and Henry 
B. Both he and his wife have been members of the Christian church for 
many years. 

D. W. B. TEVIS, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Boonville, Cooper county, Mo., Oct. 
21, 1834, where he was reared on a farm and educated at the Masonic 
College, Lexington, Mo. In 1859 he set out to seek his fortune and 
landed at Lexington, this county, and went clerking in the drug store of 
Chapman & Home, where he continued until 1864, when he bought out 
the firm and entered upon the business alone, which he has continued to 
the present time. He now carries a large stock of drugs, &c, and has a 
flourishing trade, and has a fine farm of 160 acres. He was twice county 
assessor, in 1862 and in 1864. In 1863 he married Miss Julia Waddell of 
Lexington. Has had four children — two living: Susan and Simeon J. 

FAYETTE PATTERSON, 

P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 26, 1826, 
where he grew to manhood and was educated. His father being a brick- 
mason, he learned that trade under him. In 1847 he engaged with 
his father in merchandising at Tonawanda, near Niagara Falls, where he 
continued in business for ten years. In ]860 he came to St. Louis, where 
he remained four years speculating. In 1865 he came to Lexington, in 
this county, and entered into his present business, and for years has had a 
large and flourishing trade, selling goods to the amount of $75,000 per 
annum, and has made all he has by his own energy and good manage- 
ment. He has been an Odd Fellow for twenty-five years. He has been 
a church member since he was a small boy. In 1865 he was married to 
Miss Phoebe Johnson, of Schuyler county, N. Y., and has had four child- 
ren, three of them now living: Robert B, Mary E. and Oliver H. 

COL. JOSEPH DAVIS, 

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. The subject of this sketch has been promi- 
nent in this county for years, and is well known in the state. Was born 
in Surry county, North Carolina, May 5, 1819. The family is of Welsh 
descent — his great-grandfather, Mathew Davis, having emigrated to this 
country, direct from Wales. The father of the Colonel was also named 
Mathew, and was born in North Carolina. On the maternal side the 
family name was Fields, the maiden name of his mother being Polly Fields. 
Col. Davis was born on his father's plantation in North Carolina, but in 
his seventh year moved with his parents to Roane county, Tennessee— in 
1834 to McMinn county — and in 1837 to Henry county, Missouri, where 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 653 

his father died in 1855 — his mother died in 1843. Col. Davis was thus 
raised in three different states. His school education was limited — but 
close observation, and a happy faculty of applying his observation and 
experience, have in a great measure obviated his lack of scholastic educa- 
tion. The school of experience is after all the best school. In 1841 he 
was married to Miss Rebecca Nave, daughter of John and Elizabeth Nave, 
of Henry county, Missouri, and soon after began keeping the hotel in 
Clinton, Missouri, which he continued until 1855, and in the meantime, 
1852-53, he was deputy receiver of lands, under Thomas Allison, which 
gave him the opportunity of extending his acquaintance to all parts of the 
state. When the war broke out, in 1861, he was still living in Clinton, 
and of course he espoused the cause of the south. He joined the M. S. G. 
under Gen. Price, in 1861, and after the fight at Boonville was commis- 
sioned quartermaster, with rank of major, on Price's staff. In 1862 he 
resigned and went to Fayetteville, Ark., where he had previously moved 
his family and slaves. From that time to the close of the war, he was 
burdened with the care of a large family, consisting of his own immediate 
family, the family of one married daughter, whose husband had been 
killed, of one sister-in-law whose husband was in the confederate army. 
His widowed mother-in-law was also with him, which, with a large num- 
ber of slaves, prevented his return to the army. The close of the war 
found him at Austin, Texas, his slaves gone, and with life to begin anew. 
In 1865 he returned to Missouri, and settled in this county upon a farm 
he had previously purchased, five miles southeast of Lexington, which 
has been his home ever since. He has never been a candidate for office* 
but has lived the life of a quiet and independent citizen upon his own farm. 
Col. and Mrs. Davis have had ten children: 3 sons and 7 daughters; only 
five of whom are now living, all daughters and all married. The widowed 
daughter, Mrs. Wamsley, whose husband was killed in the war, was 
re-married in 1868 to Dr. T. E. Owens, formerly of this county, now of 
Colorado. Another son-in-law, Firman Desloge, is one of the proprietors 
and the manager of the well known Desloge mines, at St. Joseph, Mis- 
souri. Another son-in-law, Z. B. Clardy, is prosecuting attorney of St. 
Francois county, Missouri, and another, Mr. McWilliams, is now engaged 
in the cattle business in Colorado, on the Texas Pacific railroad. Col. 
Davis has twelve grandchildren. He and all his family are members of 
the Christian church. He, himself, joined the masonic order, but never 
took but one degree, and has not attended a lodge for years. Politically, 
he is a strong democrat, though formerly a whig, and still hopes to live to 
see the government of the people restored to its former purity, 
cc 



654 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP. 

DR. J. B WOOD. 

The subject of this sketch, a highly respected citizen and honored phy- 
sician of Waverly, is the son of Wm. F. and Sarah E. Wood, who were 
among the early settlers of Lafayette county, formerly of Ten- 
nessee. The doctor was born in Lafayette county, Feb. 25, 1839. He 
received his education at Lexington and Chapel Hill College. Com- 
menced the study of medicine when sixteen years old under Dr. S. W 
Brown. Afterwards attended St. Louis medical college where he gradu- 
ated in class of 1859-60. Began practice of medicine in Waverly. When the 
war came on, he enlisted in the southern cause, and left Waverly with 
Gen. Shelby's company, as assistant surgeon of his regiment, and after- 
wards was promoted to surgeon. He was with Shelby through the entire 
war. Was in the battles of Lexington, Newtonia, Prairie Grove Spring- 
field, Harstville, Helena, Little Rock, Jenkins Ferry and every raid made 
in Missouri. After the surrender of Shreveport, he returned to his home 
in Waverly and to the practice of his profession in partnership with Dr 

^ enC Z»- r0 Z n ' Wh ° retir6d in 187L J an ' 10 ' 1867 ' he wa * carried to 
Miss Willie Demass, of Saline county. At the organization of the Lafav- 
ette county medical association, in November, 1879, was elected president 
which position he now holds. He is also a member of the masonic order 
and for many years has been worshipful master. 

CAPT. WM. A. REDD. 

The subject of this sketch is a son of Walter and Rebecca Redd of 
Fayette county, Ky., where he was born and lived until grown to man- 
hood. Received his education at Locust Grove academy, Kentucky 
After completing his education, he engaged in the mercantile business at 
Lexington. In 1856 he moved to Chicago and there he continued in the 
mercantile trade. From Chicago he removed to Lafayette county where 
he remained until the war broke out. He then enlisted in the confederacy 
and was captain and adjutant of Shelby's regiment, in which he remained 
throughout the war. In 1866 he was a planter in Alabama. In 1867 he 
returned to Lafayette county where he has since lived engaged in general 
merchandise. In May, 1859, he was married to Miss Mildred Taylor of 
Dover, Lafayette county. By this marriage he has three children fan 
ette M., Hubbard F. and Mary W. Capt Redd is one of Lafayette 
county's most enterprising men. In addition to his merchandise business 
he is carrying on a farm near Waverly in partnership with his brother' 
also has 1,000 head of cattle in Texas. ' 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 655 

JAMES M. HOPKINS, 

land-holder and stock-dealer; is a native of Maryland, the son of Rigby 
and Mary (Aull) Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins was born April 7, 1815, and 
lived in his native state until the year 1845. He then came to 
Boone county, Missouri, where he settled upon a farm until 1854; he then 
came to Saline county, and in 1857 came to Lafayette county, Mo., here has 
engaged in merchandising for twenty years. He is the owner of 800 acres 
of Lafayette county's best land. In 1857 he was married to Miss Ann 
Corrin, an English'lady, who died Nov. 9, 1876. Mr. Hopkins is a public- 
spirited man and a strong man in the M. E church, south, of which he is 
a devout member. 

JOHN J. HALL. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Kentucky, the son of Braxton P. 
and Catherine Hall, natives of the same state. He was born Nov, 26, 1814. 
At the age of seventeen his parents moved to Missouri, and settled in 
Saline county' where he and his parents lived upon the farm for several 
years. In 1834 run a store in Henry county, Mo., on the frontier. 
Thence to Miami where he engaged in merchandise for several years, then 
moved to Dover, in this county, where he was associated with Fletcher in 
the manufacture of rope. In 1845 he came to Waverly where he built a 
flouring mill. Afterwards resumed his favorite pursuit of merchandising 
until the war broke out. During the war he took his family of girls to 
Shelbyville, Kentucky, to college and remained with them. In 1866 he 
returned to Waverly, Mo, where he was elected mayor and justice of the 
peace which position he held till 1881, when he resigned both offices. In 
1840 he was married to Miss Lucretia M. Craig, daughter of Dr. Robert 
Craig, natives of Virginia. By this marriage he had seven children, five 
of whom are now living: Blanche (Corder), Mary E. (Deartherage), 
J. E. (Mrs. Dr. Chin), Dixie L. (Andrew Francisco), Katie, (Dr. Bell.) 

SENATOR E. M. EDWARDS, 

is a native of Cabell county, W. Va., the eldest son of Joseph and Sarah 
(McConnas) Edwards, who came to Johnson county in 1839, where they 
settled upon a farm for two years. They moved to Platte county, tnen to 
Marshall, Saline county, in 1847. In 1848 he came to Waverly and 
engaged in the mercantile business, and was elected justice of the peace; 
during this time he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1861 
His practice was chiefly in Lafayette and Saline counties. In 1876 he 
was elected to the state senate, and made chairman of the committee on 
permanent seat of government. Was re-elected in the year lb b0, over 
Col. Henry Chiles, C. C. Tevis, and W. C. Smith, republicans. He 



656 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

received the nomination over the democrats and defeated the republican 
nominee by 1,345 votes in Lafayette county. The second official term he 
was made a member of the committe on internal improvements, and chair- 
man of the committee on claims. His chief attention has been directed 
towards correcting the defects and inconsistencies of the law. He was 
the first master of the lodge of A. F. & A. M. Was married March 19, 
1843, to Miss Mary B. Lyon, of Logon county, Ky., and by her he had 
eleven children, three of whom are now living: G. W. H., Joseph L. and 
Wm. S. Mrs. Edwards died in August, 1870. He was again married, to 
Mrs. Fannie R., relict of Wm. Berriman, of Henry county, Ky. By this 
marriage he had two children, Frank and James E. R. 

JOHN E. CORDER, 

farmer and merchant, and senior member of the firm of Corder & Redd, 
leading merchants of Waverly. Mr. Corder is a native of Rappahanock 
county, Virginia, and was born Aug 1, 1836, the third son of a family of 
eight children of Eliza and Sarah (Jeftres) Corder, who were natives of 
the same state. He spent his early life with his parents in Virginia, where 
he received his education. When at the age of twenty years he came 
west and located in Lafayette county, Mo. In the fall of 1856 he went to 
Kansas, and during her troubles was body guard for John M. Reid. 
When relieved he then returned to Lafayette county, and was employed 
by Corder & Co. In 1860 he was married; then left his bride for the 
field of battle. Was in Gen. Shelby's command, and fought in the battle 
of Newtonia, Prairie Grove, Helena, Prairie de Ann, Little Rock, West- 
port, Marshall, Springfield, Jenkins Ferry, and with Shelby in all his 
raids. After the war he returned to his wife, who was Rebecca Heaton 
daughter of Col. D. Heaton, a soldier of the war of 1812. He now 
became engaged in the cultivation of the soil, which he followed in con- 
nection with his mercantile business. Mr. Corder is a very enterprising 
man and is the possessor of about 1,000 acres of extra good land. His 
mariage was blessed with three children: Katie E., Leslie, and Frank 
Gordon. Mr. Corder holds the office of Justice of the peace of his town- 
ship, also mayor of his town. These offices he holds with satisfaction to 
the people and credit to himself. 

THOMAS A. GROVES, 

farmer and junior partner of the firm, owners of Lafayette county star 
mills, and is a native of this county. His parents were David and Eliza 
(tlutchings) Groves, they were from Tennessee and Kentucky, and came 
to this county in 1838. Thomas spent his early life with his parents, and 
received his education in the Masonic college at Lexington, and graduated 
in the years 1856 — 57. After graduating he merchandised for a short 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 657 

time, but abandoned that and went on to the farm. When the war came 
on he joined Gates' regiment, with which he remained till the fall of 
Vicksburg;he then joined Shelby's command, with whom he remained 
. through the war. After the war he returned to farm life. In November, 
1866, he was marred to Miss Mary C, daughter of Col. G. B. Warren, 
of Dover; by this marriage he has two children: George Warren and 
David. 

H. C. FRANCISCO, 

stock and grain dealer, is a native of Saline county, Mo., born March 
1st, 1845; the son of Andrew and Joann (Christie) Francisco, who were 
natives of Woodford county, Ky., and emigrated to Saline county, Mo., 
at an early day. H. C. was educated in Saline county, and at Chapel 
Hill college. When the war broke out he joined Taylor's company, and 
served in the trans-Mississippi department, serving through the war. 
Then he returned to Saline county, where he lived for two years, then 
moved to Waverly. In March, 1875, he was married to Miss Emma 
Thomas, daughter of Oscar and Serelda Thomas. By this marriage he 
has two children. 

JOHN S. CALLOWAY. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Missouri, born in Harrison- 
ville, December 31st, 1844; educated in Bates county, where he was 
when the war broke out. He then enlisted in Peyton's regiment, and was 
with Price most of the time, serving under Holmes, E. K. Smith and 
Beaureguard; is the son of James H. and Mary (Martin) Calloway, of 
Tennessee. 

J. W. TUCKER, 

druggist, is a native of Maryland, the son of Walter and Nancy Tucker, 
natives of eastern Maryland. J. W. was born May 8th, 1816; educated 
at Brookville, Indiana; received his medical education in the Cincinnati 
medical college, of Ohio. After leaving college he practiced medicine in 
Livingston county, Mo., until the Mexican war broke out when he and 
Captain Slack raised a company of men, and the doctor was made First 
Lieutenant of that company, L, second regiment Missouri volunteers 
command by Gen. Sterling Price; was in the battle of Canada, and was 
discharged at Ft. Leavenworth in 1847; then returned home and engaged 
in the drug business, first at Carrollton, and then at Brunswick, and lastly 
at Waverly, in the year 1866. 



658 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

REV. J. M. SCOTT, 

pastor of O. S. Presbyterian church of the U. S. The subject of this 
sketch is a native of Hardy county, W. Va.; was born January 18, 1830. 
The son of Rev. W. M. and Nancy (Daniel) Scott, who lived and died in 
the old state of Virginia. Joseph M. received his collegiate education in 
Hampden, Sidney college, and graduated in the class of 1851-52. His 
theological instructions were receieved in the Union theological seminary 
and at the Danville theological seminary, of Kentucky. His first charge 
was Winchester, Ky., and afterwards he supplied the churches of Clear 
Creek and Green Springs, Ky. In 1865 he had a charge at Carlisle until 
1871, when he moved to Carrollton, Mo., and lived three years. Then 
he moved to Jersey ville, Ills., where he was pastor of the second Presby- 
terian church for six years. He then came to Waverly where he has 
since resided. On the fifth Sabbath of July, 1881, he was installed pastor 
of the O. S. Presbyterian church. In 1857 he was married to Miss Jose- 
phine Coon, of Nicholasville, Ky., by whom he has one daughter, Anna 
M. (Guinn). In 1860 Mrs. Scott died, and in 1861 he was again married 
to Miss Nannie Parks, daughter of Col. T. S. Parks, of Nicholas county, 
Ky. This marriage was blessed with six children: Mabel, Lydia H., 
Lizzie D., Mattie P., Wm. S. and Thompson P. 

CHARLES KRAUS, 

dealer in hardware, tinware, and furniture. The subject of this sketch 
was born in Germany, September 10, 1848. His parents were John and 
Anna D. Kraus, who moved to America in the year 1850. His father 
was a soldier in the French revolution, and died in Lafayette county, Mis- 
souri, in the year 1874. Charles received his education in this county. 
Was occupied upon the farm for ten years. In 1870, he purchased the 
hardware store of S. W. Campbell, also the hardware of Mr. T. Patter- 
son. The fact that Mr. Kraus, in his commencement of business, had 
nothing, speaks well for his energy and enterprise, and has become one of 
Waverly's most influential men. In 1878, he was married to Miss Anna 
M. Boof, who lived but a short time. 

LANDRUM BROTHERS, 

William H. and Thomas R., carriage and buggy manufacturers, at Wav- 
erly. They are natives of Campbell county, Virginia. Their parents 
were John J. and Mary C. Landrum, and were to the manor born, and 
now reside in their native state. The brothers were educated in old Vir- 
ginia, and came to Missouri in the year 1873, and settled in Waverly, 
where they have since lived. The oldest brother, William H., was mar- 
ried to Miss Laura Dinwiddie, by whom he has one child, Clayton. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 659 

JAMES ROLLINS, 

city marshal. The subject of this sketch was one of Price's best soldiers, 
and is now a citizen of Waverly. He was born in the year 1840, the son 
of B. F. and Elizabeth Rollins, natives of Henry county, Kentucky. He 
came to Missouri in the year 1856, and located in Saline county, where he 
lived till the war came on. He then enlisted in Price's army, in 1861, and 
was with him until he returned to the trans-Mississippi department, then 
went into the flying artillery for a while, then with Jackson a short time, 
then under Forest. In 1870, was married to Miss Nannie Kaine, of Saline 
county. By her he has four children: Lizzie, John W., Anna M., and 
Essie Belle. 

THOMAS J. FLETCHER, 

druggist. A native of Lafayette county, Missouri. Born September 19, 
1838. His parents, George C. and Mary (Hall) Fletcher, were natives of 
Mason county, Kentucky, and moved to Saline county, Missouri, in 1832, 
where they resided for a short time, and then moved to Lafayette county. 
Thomas is one of four sons that lived to be grown to manhood. His 
chief business in life has been of a mercantile nature. In 1861, he opened 
a* drug store in Lexington, which he continued for eight years. In 1869, 
he came to Waverly, built a store building, and has been in the drug busi- 
ness ever since, in that town. In 1859, was married to Miss Fannie 
Whittlesey, daughter of P. R. and Salutia (Stone) Whittlesey, of New 
York. By this marriage he has seven children: Mary (Corder), George 
R., Christopher E., Henry W., Thomas J., Fannie W., and Willie K. 
Mr. Fletcher was a student of Shelby college four years. A graduate of 
Jones College, at St. Louis, in the close of the year 1869. 

R. C. BOOTON, 

insurance agent, and senior member of the firm of Booton & Graves, pro- 
prietors of Lafayette County Star Mills. Mr. Booton was born October 
1, 1835, in Culpepper county, Virginia, the son of William and Jane 
(Wood) Booton, who were also natives of Virginia. Mr. Booton spent his 
early life with his parents upon the farm. Received his education at the 
Missouri State University, where he graduated in the class of 1857. He 
came to Lafayette county in 1843, with his widowed mother, who died in 
1854. After that time, he was engaged farming till 1872. He then 
engaged in merchandising, in Waverly, for two years, when he bought 
out the Starr Mills. November, 1865, he was married to Miss Sallie 
Neale, daughter of William Neale, formerly of Parkersburg, West Vir- 
ginia. By this marriage Mr. Booton has one child, Southwood. 



660 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

DR. J. WARREN. 

The subject of this sketch was a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, 
and born October 12, 1816, the soi! of William and Lucretia (Taylor) 
Warren. His father a native of Virginia. His mother a native of Ken- 
tucky. She died in her native state in the year 1819. The doctor received 
his education at Central College, Danville and Transylvania College, Lex- 
ington, Kentucky, where he graduated in the year 1845. He then emi- 
grated to Dover, Lafayette county, Mo., and engaged in the practice of 
medicine, until 1853. He then bought a farm in Cass county, Mo., which 
he cultivated with his servants until the war. came on, he then came to 
Lafayette county, Mo. Thence with his servants to Boone county, where 
he was when the slaves were made free. In June, 1865, he located at 
Columbia, where he practiced the medical profession five years. He then 
returned to Lafayette county, locating at Waverly, where he now resides. 
In September, 1849, he was married to Miss Isabelle Dickson, daughter of 
Rev. Wm. Dickson. By this marriage he has three living children: Anna 
C, (Shindler), Amanda Lee, and Lucy. Belle, (Dr. Trogan). The War- 
rens are of English decendants, and came to America in 1781, under act 
of the House of Burgesses, to settle land. 

H. J. GALBRAITH, 

farmer, born November 20, 1796, in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and the 
son of Alexander Galbraith. In 1817, his parents emigrated to Howard 
county, Mo., where they resided for seven years, they then moved to 
Saline county, and from there to Lafayette county. Here Henry was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Thomas. She died in 1867. 

DR. SPENCER W. BROWN. 

The subject of this sketch is one of a family of eight children, his 
parents, James and Mary, (Palmore), who came to Missouri in 1831, from 
Buchanan county, Va. Spencer was educated at Fayette Central Col- 
lege, and received his diploma from the Jefferson Medical College, at 
Philadelphia, Pa. In the year 1850, he came to Waverly from college and 
practiced the medical profession till the war broke out, he then joined the 
confederate army, under Shelby till he (Shelby), was made General, then 
he (Dr. Brown), was promoted surgeon of his regiment, afterwards brig- 
ade surgeon. At the close of the war he returned to Waverly and took 
up the practice of medicine in that place. This he abandoned in the year 
1870 for a more retired life. In June 1856, he was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth A. Houston, daughter of Col. David Houston, formerly of Virginia. 
By this marriage he has four children: Mary E., Spencer Lee, Benjamin 
H., and Wm. Palmore. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 661 

PROF. J. W. CARTER, 

The subject of this sketch, is an old teacher, of considerable reputation. 
His parents, Curtis and Letitia, (Woodward) Carter, were Virginians by- 
birth, of Henry county, where the Professor was born and raised to man- 
hood. He was educated under Alexander Campbell at Bethany College, 
where he graduated A. B., in 1850, and after five years teaching, the 
degree of A. M. was conferred. For three years following his gradua- 
tion he taught school at Dover. In March, 1855, was called to Paris, Mo., 
to take charge of the Paris Female Seminary, which he did for three 
years. In 1857 he came to Waverly, where he taught school for six years, 
he then was recalled to Paris, where he remained for five years, and then 
came back to Waverly in 1868, where he has since been teaching. Nov. 
12, 1850, he was married to Miss Margaret B. Campbell, niece of Alex- 
ander Campbell; daughter of Archibald and Elenor Campbell, natives of 
Ireland. By this marriage he has four children now living: J. Lee, Mari- 
an D., (N H. Gentry), Wm. H. and Joseph W. Prof. Carter is a true 
Christian man, having been a devoted member of the Christian church 
since his youth. 

JAMES GOODWIN, 

dealer in farm implements, Waverly. The subject of this sketch is an old 
settler of Lafayette county, arriving here in the spring of 1840 from Rap- 
pahannock county, Va. James was born in Fauquier county, Va., Janu- 
ary 9, 1804. His parents were John and Elizabeth Goodwin, who were 
natives of the county where James was born. The early life of James 
was devoted to tilling of the soil. After his first marriage, which occur- 
red June 29, 1828, to Miss Elizabeth Corder, daughter of Judge V. Cor- 
der, he merchandised for 35 years, and on coming to Missouri he pur- 
chased a farm, which he farmed until the close of the war. By the above 
marriage they had five children: John T., George E., Eliza J., (Judge 
Hays) now dead, Elizabeth, and James W. After the death of his first 
wife he was married to Evelyn Corder, daughter of Rev. Martin, of Dover. 
By this marriage they have five children, Martin, Henry, Mary (Gog- 
gins) Martha, (Perry Cartrow). This wife having died he again was 
married to Miss Martha Marshall in 1849. By this wife he has five chil- 
dren: Franklin, Alice (Burnett), Walter, Albert, and Birdie. 

DR. CHARLES SMITH, 

physician and surgeon, Waverly, Mo. The subject of this sketch is one 
of the most promising phvsicians of Lafayette county. A graduate of the 
Missouri medical college; graduated in the class of 1878-79. Returned to 
Waverly, where he spent his boyhood days to practice his learned pro- 



662 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNT Y. 

fession, at which he has been successful. Dr. Smith is a native of Lafay- 
ette county Mo, born December 27, 1855. His parents are George W 
and Susan Smith natives of Kentucky, and came to this county in W 
Dr. Smith is a Mason of good standing, also a member of A. O. U 
W and of the Lafayette County Medical Association, before which body 
he has read some fine papers, which reflected much credit upon him as a 
physician. r 

DR. GEORGE FEAGANS, 
physician and surgeon of Waverly. The subject of this sketch is a native 
of Fauquier county Va^; born February 16, 1846. His parents, John R., 
and Elizabeth Wh.te) Feagans, were natives of Virginia, and came to 
Boone county, Mo., ,n 1856. Thence to Lafayette countv in 1860. George 
was educated at Haynes' high school, in Lexington, and his medical edu- 

SrVTT ' at St - L °- medical college ' where he Kraduated in 

1869-70. Then he located at Waverly, where he practiced for some time 
be ore entermg Bellview medical college of New York, in which he grad- 
uated m 1874, and returned to Waverly to practice his profession, where 
he has an extensive practice. In October, 1877, he was married to Miss 
Lutie B. Warren, daughter of Dr. James M. and Belle (Dickson) War- 
ren, formerly of Kentucky. ' 

N. P. BUCK, 
stock dealer and farmer. The subject of this sketch is the youngest son 
of a family of four, and the son of Dr. Perry G. and Rebecca (Thomas) 
Buck, who came to this county prior to 1820, from New York Dr Buck 
was married in this state soon after his advent here, and settled in Lex- 
ington, built the first house in the town. Mr. Buck, the subject of this 
sketch, was born m Lexington in 1832, and was educated at the Masonic 
college. In I860 he went to the eastern part of the county and engaged 
in farming. He now owns 740 acres of land, and raises corn and wheat 
extensively. Keeps about 300 head of cattle, which he fattens and ships 
to eastern markets. In November, 1869, he was married to Miss Mar- 
garet Pnchard, daughter of E. R. and Eliza Prichard, of Lexington, for- 

Z Y HO mT°T' Ky ' % tWs marria S e hc has four children- 
Edward O., Nellie, Mary, and Napoleon. 

B. F. McCORD, 
farmer Is a son of Wm. D. and Theodotia McCord, of Madison county, 
Ky and was born January 30, 1832, in the same county. He spent his 
early life with h,s father, who was the possessor of a large body of land 
and was engaged in loaning money. He received his education at Bethany 
College, Virginia. After he left college he came to Lafayette county 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 663 

Mo., where he purchased land and has since lived. In 1862 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Alice J. Brown, daughter of B.J. Brown, of Richmond, Mo., 
president of the state senate, and who was killed at the battle of Spring- 
field, Mo. This marriage was blessed with two children, Lizzie and 
Alice. 

O. H. P. CATRON, 
P. O. Alma, Mo. Is an old resident of this county, having been born on 
the soil. His father, Stephen Catron, was born in Tennessee, and his 
mother in Kentucky, they came to this county in 1819, settling near Tabo 
Grove, then moving near Lexington; here O. H. P; was born in 1842, and 
educated at the Shelby college. In the war he joined Gen. Shelby's com- 
mand, and was with him throughout the war. After the war he came 
home and went to farming until 1879, when he went to merchandising. 
February, 1867, he was married to Miss Martha E. Goodwin, daughter 
of James and Evelyn Goodwin, of this county. By this union he has one 
child living, Lee. He is a Mason of the Blue Lodge. 

WATER B. HATFIELD, 
P O Alma, Mo. The subject of this sketch came to this county in April, 
1881 ' from Pike county, Ills. His parents, Oliver B. and Mary Hatfield, 
were natives of Illinois. He was born April 1, 1858, in Morgan county, 
Ills., was raised in Springfield, and there educated. At the age of eighteen 
he began teaching, which vocation he followed until 1881, when he moved 
to this county. September 1, 1880, he was married to Miss Margaret M. 
Hunter, of Pittsfield, Ills. He is one of the most successful teachers. 

E. B. STARKE, 

P O Alma Mo. The subject of this sketch is a native of Virginia. 
When he was two years old his father moved to Missouri, and settled in 
this county. He was born September 18, 1845. His education was 
obtained in the common schools of Missouri. He has always been a far- 
mer In October, 1868, he was married to Miss Hattie A. Switherman, 
of this county, and daughter of A.J. Switherman, and Julia, his wife, for- 
merly of Virginia. In 1864 he enlisted under Gen. Shelby in confederate 
service. Is now mayor of Alma. 

H. A. WITHEE, 

postoffice, Alma, Mo., of the firm of Hatfield & Withee .druggists Alma, 
Mo. Was born in Scott county, Ills., Feb. 18, 1852. His early life was 
spent on his father's farm; his education obtained in the Winchester high 
school and in the State Normal University, 111. For twelve years he 



664 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

taught in the public schools, and a good deal of his time has been devoted 
to writing for the public on educational subjects; and he is a writer of 
considerable note. Dec. 25, 1879, he was married to Miss Mary A. Shep- 
herd, of Ills., formerly of Va. 

JOHN T. GOODWIN, 

postoffice, Alma, Mo. Was born, raised and educated in Virginia, of 
which state both his father and mother, James and Elizabeth Goodwin, 
were natives. In 1839 he moved with his parents to Missouri, and set- 
tled in this county. When grown, he took a trip to California, where he 
remained two years, and then returned home to this county, where he has 
a fine farm of 320 acres, especially adapted to the grain and stock raising. 
Two years ago, he rented his farm out, moved to Alma and engaged in 
general merchandising. In Sept. 1859, was married to Miss Amanda 
Goggins, daughter of Christopher and Eliza Goggins, of Ky. Of this 
union there are five living children: Lilly, Eliza M., Bettie, James and 
Daisy. 

DR. J. C. PASLEY, 

postoffice, Alma, Mo. Was born in Morgan county, Ills. His father, C. 
C. Pasley, was from Tennessee, and his mother, Nancy E. (Crawford), 
was from Kentucky. His mother died while he was an infant. His father 
was wounded at the battle of Bellmont, killed by a train of cars at Spring- 
field, Ills., leaving him an orphan at twelve years of age. He found a 
home with J. B. Thompson, of Morgan county, Ills., with whom he lived 
until he entered the State Normal University, at Bloomington, 111. Leav- 
ing college, he taught school for five years, and studied medicine as he 
could find the time, with Dr. J. A. Rea. In 1876, he entered the college 
of physicians and surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated 
in 1878. He then located at Alsey, 111., and practiced two years. By the 
advice of friends he was induced to locate at Alma, in this county, which 
he did, and has built up an extensive practice. 

ROBERT W. NEAL, 

postoffice, Alma, Mo., senior member of the firm of J. W. Davis & Co., 
dealers in general merchandise and agricultural implements. He is a Vir- 
ginian by birth, born and raised in Parkersburg; born Aug. 15, 1825. His 
father, James Neal, was, during his early life, clerk of the circuit court, 
and his mother, Mary A. Neal, was a sister of Judge Wills, so well known 
in Missouri. They were both natives of Virginia, and in Virginia were 
laid to their eternal rest. In 1850, he came to this county and clerked for 
Taylor and Simpson, at Waverly, for two years. In 1858, he went to 
California, thence to Nevada, and from there to Oregon, being absent 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 665 

eighteen years. In 1870, he sailed to South America, and by Cape Horn, 
home. May, 1877, he was married to Miss Mary C. Lewis, daughter of 
Wetzell Lewis, formerly of Virginia. 

DR. A. L. NORFLEET, 

P. O. Alma. Was born in Miller county. Mo., January 13, 1858, where 
his parents resided for many years. His early life was spent on a farm, 
and his education obtained in this county, and he is one of the most prom- 
ising young men in Lafayette county. In February, 1879, he commenced 
the study of medicine with Dr. J. B. Wood of Waverly. His whole time 
and attention were devoted to his chosen profession, and he graduated 
in the class of 1880-81 at the St. Louis medical college. May, 1881, he 
located at Alma, where he is now practicing. 

DANIEL F. JACKSON, 

Middleton township. Was born in Rappahannock county, Va., January 
16, 1831, where he spent his early life up to 1857; he moved to Missouri 
in the fall of 1857, and settled on the farm where he now resides. At the 
beginning of the war he enlisted in Company C, First Missouri cavalry, 
under Gen. Shelby, and served until the close of the war, and took part 
in all the engagements the regiment was in, and was at the surrender at 
Shreveport. He was married April 15, 1853 to Miss Allie Griffin, a 
native of Virginia. By this marriage they have eight children: Daniel 
W., Frank, Stonewall, Richard, Eugenia, Joseph, Robert, and Claud. 

JAMES W. GOODWIN, 

Middleton township. The subject of this sketch was born in Rap- 
pahannock county, Va., February 1, 1834, and came with his father, 
James Goodwin, to Marion county, this state, in 1839, where he lived until 
the fall of 1847, when he came to Lafayette, where he has since remained, 
and is one of the largest land owners in the county, having some 1,600 
acres of the finest land. He was married December 6, 1857, to Lucy A. 
Corder, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of John and Sarah Corder, 
who came to this county in 1840. By this marriage they have four chil- 
dren: John G., Minnie, Sallie E., and Fannie; the two oldest are married. 
Mr. Goodwin is a member of the Presbyterian church. 

JAMES A. JACKSON, 

was born in East Va., January 11, 1829, where he spent his early life, 
until he was twenty years old, when he moved to Missouri, and settled in 
this county, where he has since resided and engaged in farming and rais- 
ing stock; and now owns 400 acres of land. He was married Nov. 20, 
1855, to Eliza A. Corder, a native of Va. By this marriage they have 



666 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

seven children, John H., Sarah E., Daniel G., Elizabeth, James, Victoria 
and Thomas. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Presbyterian church, as is 
also Mrs. Jackson. He is one of the leading and most prosperous farmers 
in the county. 

W. H. PRIGMORE. 

In the beginning of the 17th century there came from France to the 
United States, a father and three sons, who were banished for not embrac- 
ing the Catholic religion, the faith of that country, and effects would have 
been confiscated but for a thoughtful strategy by which he managed to 
bring most of his property with him. The names of the three sons were: 
Theodore, Joseph and Daniel. At the time of the war of the revolution 
in 17J6, in the wilds of Pennsylvania, were built forts at different points, 
where men were posted. One of these was at the house of Joseph Prigmore, 
where it remained during the seven years of bloodshed. He soon after 
moved to Tennessee and raised a family of five boys and seven girls. 
The third child Benjamin moved to Missouri, in 1818, and raised a family 
of ten children. The youngest now living in Davis township, this county, 
being the father of the subject of this biography, W. H., who was born 
Aug. 23, 1857, and was married June 15, 1879, to Miss Fannie Clay, 
daughter of James and Mary Clay. Her mother dying Oct. 23, 1877. 
Mr. Prigmore now owns 80 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and 
raising stock. He is a member of the Christian church. 

GRIMES H. DRYDEN, 

was born in Marion county, Ind., Jan. 26, 1841, and came to Missouri the 
fall of 1846, and settled in Holt county Mo., and in 1848, moved to Atchi- 
son county, where he lived until the fall of 1865, when he came to Lafay- 
ette where he has since resided, and now owns one hundred acres of land- 
He was married April 21, 1867, to Eliza Ramey, her parents being 
early settlers of this county. By this marriage they have two children: 
Frank M. and John H. Mr. Dryden is a member of the Patrons of Hus- 
bandry, also of the Christian church. He enlisted the September of 1861, 
in Co. B., 5th regiment under Col. Launders, and took a part in a number 
of engagements, and served until Feb. 1863, when he was discharged, 
and soon after taken prisoner and retained for two months, when he was 
exchanged. 

SAMUEL P. BASCOM. 

S. P. Bascom was born in Brown county Ohio, Aug. 35, 1827. At the 
age of seven he moved with his mother to Ky., his father having died 
when he was about six years old. Remaining there until he was about 
twenty-three, he then came to Missouri and settled in Lafayette county, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 667 

where he has since remained. He was engaged in the mercantile business 
four years in Aullville, and in 1860 he was elected county assessor, and 
during the war was in the confederate army six months, in Col. Hiram 
Bledsoe's regiment. He then returned to the county, and has since been 
engaged in farming, buying and shipping cattle. He owns 80 acres of 
land, and cultivates 300 acres. He was married Dec. 17, 1851, to Lettia 
Dinwiddie. By this marriage they have the following children : Walker, 
now attending law school at Columbia, Cassie, Belle, Jennie, Frank, Sam- 
uel and Charles. Mr. Bascom is a half brother of Bishop Bascom of M. 
E. church south . 

D. J. WATERS, 

was born in Fauquier county Va., Dec. 4, 1832. He is a son of James 
G. Waters, also of Va., who died Feb. 4, 1842, at the age of 36. He 
spent his early life in his native state, and at the age of eighteen he moved 
to Missouri with his mother Emily Waters and brother Areopagus J. and 
sister Mary Penelope, and settled in Lafayette county, where he now 
resides, and is the owner of 500 acres of land dealing extensively in stock, 
making a specialty of fine sheep and hogs. He was married July 12, 
1866, to Mary A. Thompson, who was born in Fauquier county, Va., near 
Manassas Gap, Sept., 2, 1842. She is a daughter of Land Thompson 
still living in Va., and Elizabeth who died at Woodlawn Va. Sept. 11, 
1876, in the 63d year of her age. By this marriage they have five chil- 
dren: Mary E., born July 4, 1868; Lizzie D., born March 7, 1870; John 
E., born Feb. 7, 1872; Fannie Lee, born June 10, 1876; D. J., born June 30, 
1880 ; and three deceased. Mr. Waters is a Master Mason member of 
Waverly lodge, No. 61, also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and 
has held office in the latter lodge since he first united, and is now their 
lecturer. Mrs. Waters is also a matron in the lodge ; they are both mem- 
bers of the M. E. church south. 

ROBERT P. METCALF. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Fleming county, Ky., May 4th, 
1832, where he spent his early life. In 1857 he settled in Missouri, How- 
ard county, where he remained one year and then moved to Pettis county, 
remaining there eight years; he then returned to Kentucky, staying there 
one year; he then returned to Lafayette county, where he has since lived, 
and now owns 240 acres of fine land. He was married November 20th, 
1866, to Miss Lizzie Catron; by this marriage they have four children: 
Carrie C, John P., Robert. F. and Christopher C. Mr. Metcalf is one of 
the most enterprising farmers in this part of the county; himself and wife 
are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. 



668 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

B. VANARSDALL, 

was born in Boyle county, Kentucky, August 15th, 1833. He spent his 
early life in his native state until he was twenty years old; in 1856 he 
came to Missouri, and first settled in Howard county, where he remained 
about one year; from there he moved to Saline, and soon after to Lafay- 
ette, and subsequently returned to Saline, where he remained until the 
spring of 1876, when he returned to this county, and now owns 290 acres 
of land, and follows farming and stock raising. In 1856 he married Miss 
Sallie Houchins, a native of Kentucky; they have eight children: Mollie J., 
John W., Sallie A., Thomas J., Minnie, Whitford B., William E. and 
Tilda. Mr. and Mrs. Vanarsdall are members of the Christian church. 

CAPT. SAM F. TAYLOR, 

deceased, was born in Clark county, Ky., October 8th, 1821, where he 
spent his early life, and was deputy clerk of the circuit court under his 
father; he then succeeded his father to the office, a position he held for 
some eight years. He was married September 14th, 1843, to Miss Fan- 
nie Simpson, a daughter of Judge Simpson, of Clark county. Mr. Taylor 
continued in office until 1848, when he resigned, and in the fall of 1849 he, 
with his wife and three children moved to Missouri, and settled in Lafay- 
ette county, where he, in partnership with his brother-in-law, R. C. Simp- 
son, entered a large tract of land and engaged in raising hemp. In 1858 
he was elected to the legislature, and filled that position with credit for two 
years. In the fall of 1860 he was elected county judge; in the fall of '61, 
after the battle of Lexington, he raised a company and joined Gen. Price's 
command and served as captain until the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, 
when he was killed, being shot through the heart while storming the 
enemy's breastworks. At the time of his death he owned about 1800 
acres of land, which he leit his widow and six children : Mary, now Mrs. 
W. D. Lewis, living in Kansas City; Samuel F., now in Idaho; Isaac P., 
Lizzie B., now Mrs. Yantis, in Saline county; Edward G., now practicing 
law in Kansas City, and John M., now attending the State University. 
Mrs. Taylor was again married February 27th, 1867, to W. W. Battaile, 
a native of Virginia, who came to this county in 1842, and is now living 
in Middleton township, engaged in farming and stock raising, making 
a specialty of sheep raising. 

MENOAH BEAMER, 

was born in Grayson county, Va., June 7th, 1818, where he spent his 
early life until he was twenty-one years old; he then moved to Missouri 
in 1839, and first settled in Caldwell county ; returning to Virginia in 1840 
he remained one year, when he returned to Lafayette county; in 1849 he 
went to California and remained two years. At the breaking out of the 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 669 

war he enlisted in August, '61, in Capt. Taylor's company and served 
about one year; he then got transferred in 1862 to King's battery, and 
served about one year in that. He now owns about eleven hundred acres 
of land, making a specialty of breeding fine trotting stock. During the 
fall of '81 he took about $,1800 in premiums on horses alone at the county 
fairs, showing nine horses; he also breeds fine-blooded stock, having a fine 
herd of short-horns. He was married March 28th, 1843, to Miss Mary 
Owens, a daughter of Robert Owens, of Saline county; she dying Nov. 
24th, 18T3, leaving seven children, he was again married December 18th, 
1874, to Miss S. L. Heutcherson, a native of Va.; by this marriage they 
have three children: Paschal, Samuel C. and Hattie I. 

S. G. SMITHERMAN, 

was born in West Virginia, August 21, 1848. At the age of eighteen he 
came to Missouri with his parents, and settled in this county, where he 
has since resided, and been engaged in farming, and is now owner of a 
coal mine, which he is working. He owns one hundred and sixty acres 
of land. Was married August 15, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Hackley, a 
native of this county. By this marriage they have seven children: Mabel 
L., Mary M., Floyd J., Earl H., William A., John S., and Frederick M. 
Mr. Smitherman is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. S. of the 
Christian church. 

THOMAS R. JAMES, 

deceased, was born in Mason county, Kentucky, November 6, 1818. He 
was a son of Berryman and Mary James. His parents moved to Clay 
county, Indiana, when he was about five years old, where he remained 
until 1838, he then, with his brother, J. M., emigrated to the territory of 
Iowa. From there he came to Missouri, in 1840, and first settled in Lex- 
ington, where he lived four years, being married, October 3, 1813, to 
Miss M. H. Wallace. In 1844 he moved to Henry county, where he 
resided six years. He then returned to Waverly, this county, where he 
lived until his death, April 17, 1880. In early life he learned the carpenter 
trade, which he followed a number of years. Duuring the war he had 
charge of the ware-houses in Waverly. In 1844 he joined the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church, and was a devout Christian and an active tem- 
perance worker, having signed the pledge in 1839, and kept it faithfully. 
He was the father of eight children, four sons and four daughters, six of 
whom are now living: Frank, now in Colorado; Rovelah, now Mrs. 
Ledford, living in Waverly; Mary Wallace, George W., Elizabeth C, 
and Susie A. The oldest child, Russell, was killed on a scout, near Mt. 
Vernon, Missouri, October 2, 1862. W. C, the third child, was killed at 

DD 



670 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Fayettesville, Arkansas, June 2, 1866. He was generally known as Babe 
Anderson during the war, as he was a mere boy, and always by the side 
of Bill Anderson. 

HENRY S. VANANGLER, 

P. O. Waverly, Missouri. Was born in the city of New Brunswick, New 
Jersey, October 16, 1819. His father, Cornelius Vanangler, was of Hol- 
land descent— his fathers being among the early settlers of New York, 
over two hundred years ago. His father moved to New Brunswick in 
the year 1799. People then had, in accordance with the ordinance, make 
oath to obtain the rights of citizenship. The subject of this sketch lost his 
father when only three years old, and moved with his mother to Kentucky, 
in 1826. In 1835 he engaged as clerk in a store. In 1840 he came to 
Missouri, and taught school for several years, and then went into the 
mercantile business in Waverly and in Dover, in this county, in which he 
was very successful, until the war began. He closed his business, but did 
not enter either army. Since the war, he has followed farming— dealing 
largely in fruit, and in bees. He has forty acres in orchard, and over one 
hundred stands of bees — shipping several tons of honey annually. He has a 
model farm of 400 acres of land, and is a model farmer, possessing the 
confidence of his neighbors. In the fall of 1876 he was elected to the leg- 
islature, and served one term, He is the author of many poems, evincing 
much literary taste and ability. He has never married. 

JAMES YOUNGER, 

deceased. Was born in Logan county, Kentucky, Oct. 6, 1833. His 
father, Wm. C. Younger, was also a native of Kentucky. He lived in 
his native county until ten years old, when he went to Simpson county, 
Ky., and lived with John Ennis until he was eighteen — his parents both 
dying while he was very young. He then went to Warren county, Ky., 
where he married, Dec. 29, 1853, Miss Louisa A. Phelps, of Warren county, 
Ky. He lived in Warren county about four years, and then, in 1857, 
came to this county and settled at Waverly for some years. He then 
purchased a farm and went to farming in Middleton township. He did 
not join either army in the war, and had accumulated quite a handsome 
property at the time of his death, which took place July 6, 1881. He left 
a widow and the following children, living: Annie Belle, now Mrs. Edward 
Downs; Betty J., now Mrs. John Thornton; Charles H., Josephine, Geor- 
gia, James C. and Sallie Frances. Mr. Younger was a member of the 
Baptist church, as is also his widow. He was a member of the Grange 
and was one of the best farmers in this section. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 671 

THOMAS A. CATRON, 

P. O. Waverly, Mo. Was born in this county, Oct. 27, 1847, and is son 
of Stephen and Elizabeth Catron, who are natives of Kentucky, and who 
came to this state in 1820, settling first near Glasgow, and then in 1822 
near Lexington, in this county. The subject of this sketch was raised on 
a farm and has followed that occupation all his life. He has now 250 
acres of well stocked and well improved land and is -one of the most 
influential farmers in that vicinity. He was married Dec. 27, 1871, to 
Miss Leu Callaway, daughter of James and Minerva Callaway, of Cass 
county, Mo. By this union he has three children : May, Eddie and Mattie 
L. He is a member of the M. E. Church South, and also of the Masonic 
Lodge at Waverly. 

JAMES F. LARKIN, 

P. O. Waverly, Mo. Was born in County Galway, Ireland, April, 1812, 
where he was raised and educated. He came to the United States in 
1836 and spent nine years traveling over the States. He was married in 
Page county, Va., June 3d, 1845, to Miss Mary J. Poisal. Her grand- 
father served seven years in the Revolutionary war. In 1853 he moved 
to Missouri and settled in this county, where he has since lived, and now 
owns 440 acres of land and devotes his attention to farming and raising 
stock. He has ten children: Thomas S., John F., Edward K., James F., 
Annie, now Mrs. W. T. Maddox, of Corder; Michael, Francis P., Patrick 
Henry, Joseph and Peter. He is a member of the Catholic church. He 
took no active part in the war; called himself a Union man, but was not 
molested by anybody. 

J. POLK CORDER, 

postoffice Alma, Mo. Was born in Rappahanock Co., Va., April 1, 1843. 
His father, Elias Corder, and his mother, Sarah (Jeffries) Corder, were 
also natives of Virginia, his father holding the office of justice of the peace 
for a number of years, and died in 1879. His mother still lives in Virginia. 
The subject of this sketch was raised and educated in his native county, 
and lived there until the beginning of the war. Two days after the bat- 
tle of Bull Run he enlisted in Co. G, 49th Va. Inft, and served under 
Gen. Lee until the close of the war, and was in the battles of Seven Pines, 
Fair Oaks — where he was wounded and captured and was in prison four 
months at Fort Delaware; was then exchanged, and was in the battles of 
Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor — where he was 
again wounded in the leg and arm both. When able for duty he again 
joined his regiment, and was at the seige of Petersburg, and was with 
Gen. Early's brigade at the time of the surrender at Appomattox. After 



672 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

the war he came to Missouri and settled in this county, where he now 
lives, owning 460 acres of land. He was married April 17, 1870, to Miss 
Sarah F. Corder, daughter of John Corder, a native of Virginia, who 
came to this county in 1838. They have three children — Willie J., Mary 
L. and Blanche. 

CHARLES J. LEWIS, 

P. O. Alma, Mo. Was born in Wood county, Va., June 25, 1834, and is 
the son of George B. Lewis, a native of Loudon county, Va., and for 
several years sheriff of Wood county, Va. He moved to this county in 
1850, settled in Middleton township, and for some years was one of the 
judges of the County Court. He died Oct. 26, 1864. Charles was raised 
on his father's farm. August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. " B " 1st Mo. Cav., 
under Gen. Shelby, and served to the end of the war. He was wounded 
at Westport. After the war he came home and turned his whole atten- 
tion to farming, and now has 430 acres of land. He was married Nov. 
28, 1872, to Miss Lillian H. Lake, daughter of Thomas M. and Almira 
H. Lake, of Fauquier county, Va., and by this union has three children: 
Charles M., George V. and Leon H. He is a member of the Grange. 

COL. JOHN DONALDSON, 

postoffice Waverly, Mo. Was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland 
Oct. 17, 1822. His father was also John Donaldson. He was raised and 
educated in his native county and lived there until twenty-four years old, 
engaged in the mercantile business. In 1846 he came to this country and 
lived in Tennessee for some time. For a number of years he was engaged 
in the mercantile business in Lexington. In 1861 he enlisted in one of the 
first companies of the state guard, and remained in the confederate army 
to the end. He was married July 30, 1857, to Miss Bettie M. Webb, 
daughter of Capt. John Webb, of this county. She died March 8, 1878, 
leaving two children — Pinkie, now Mrs. McGrew, of St. Louis, and Willie 
W. He has a magnificent farm of 1,000 acres near Waverly. 

CHRISTOPHER C. CATRON, 

postoffice Waverly, Mo. Was born near Lexington, in this county, June 
30, 1837. His father, Stephen Catron, came to Missouri in 1820, and set- 
tled in this county in 1822, and married Elizabeth Smith, a native of Ken- 
tucky. They had six children, five boys and one girl, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch is the second son. He was raised and educated in this 
county. At the age of twenty years he went to Kansas, and engaged in 
merchandising for several years. In 1862 he enlisted in the 1st Mo. Cav. 
under Gen. Shelby, and served to the end of the war, surrendering in the 
last organized confederate command. After the war he reterned home, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 673 

and turned his attention to farming, which he has followed ever since. He 
has now a splendid farm of 340 acres. He was married Nov. 6, 1860, to 
Miss Eliza E. Shroyer, daughter of Wm. W. and Jane V. Shroyer, of 
this county, natives of Kentucky. By this union he has three children — 
Lucy M., Fannie E. and Jessie. He is a member of the Waverly lodge 
of Masons, and also a member of the Grange, and master of the county 
Grange. 



SNIABAR TOWNSHIP. 

JAMES F. WOOD, 

physician and surgeon, P. O. Odessa. The doctor was born and bred in 
this state and county. Was educated in St. Louis; graduating from the 
St. Louis medical college in 1878. He began the practice of medicine at 
Pink Hill, Jackson county, and in 1879 came to Odessa, where he has 
since resided, engaged in a lucrative practice. The doctor is genial in 
disposition, affable in manners and skilled in his profession, qualities which 
are sure to win for him an exalted place in the medical fraternity. He is 
a member of the A. F. and A. M., and also of the M. E. Church, South. 

AYRES C. M. BIRD, 

sewing machine dealer, Odessa. Our subject was born in this state and 
county in 1845; lived on a farm until 1873 when he commenced handling 
sewing machines. In 1864, October, he enlisted in the confederate service, 
Col. Gordon's regiment. He participated in the battle of Westport and 
other skirmishes. Was paroled at Alexandria, in June, 1865. His father 
was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Maryland. They moved to 
this county in 1835. October 9, 1870, he was married to Miss Linda E. 
Baxter, of this county, by whom he has three children: Covington M., 
Leslie H., Katie A. In 1879 he came to Odessa, where he has since 
resided, engaged in handling machines, and doing a good business. 

M. C. RYLAND, 

livery, sale and feed stable, P. O. Odessa; son of John F. and Gabriella 
Ryland, was born in this state and county, in 1847. The greater part of 
his life was spent in farming. During the past six years he has been 
engaged in the grain business, in connection with his other occupation. In 
1867 he married Miss Virginia Beall, of Lafayette county. They have 
three children: Elizabeth, Bell, and John Samuel. In 1878 Mr. Ryland 
came to Odessa and embarked in the livery business, which has occupied 
his attention the greater part of the time since. In 1879 he was elected 
city assessor, which office he filled acceptably to all concerned. Mr. R. 



674 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

has been identified with the interests of the county from his birth and has 
watched the development of her abundant resources with a great deal of 
pleasure, contributing largely to the same. 

HENRY BROWN, 

butcher, P. O. Odessa; is an Englishman by birth, a native of Bedford- 
shire. His earl)' life was passed in England, engaged in the grain busi- 
ness. In 1871 he came to the U. S. and settled in Mississippi, where he 
remained for two years. He then came to Missouri and located in John- 
son county, where he lived until 1879, when he moved to this county and 
engaged in butchering at Odessa. He has a good trade. In 1868 he was 
united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Ellis, of Uxbridge, England. They 
have three children: Bessie, Florence, and Henry. 

DR. O. BEARDSLEE, 

druggist, Odessa post office. The doctor is a native of Virginia. At an 
early age he went with his parents to New York, where he was reared 
and educated, graduating with honor from the medical college at Geneva, 
New York. Having complete faith in the then unexpressed injunction of 
that veteran journalist, Horace Greeley, of " Go west, young man, " in 
1847 he turned his face towards the setting sun. For several years he 
turned his attention principally to railroading. In 1878 he moved to 
Odessa and engaged in the drug business. By industry and close attention 
to the wants of his customers he has succeeded in establishing himself in 
a good business. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel R. 
Beard, daughter of Samuel Beard, of this county. Mr. Beardslee is a 
member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M. 

WM. F. McKINNEY, 

retired druggist, Odessa. Was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, Sep- 
tember 19, 1833. In the spring of 1849 he came with his parents to 
Andrew county, of this state, where he remained until October, 1857, 
when he went to Bolivar, Polk county, and engaged in the drug business. 
In June, of 1861, he enlisted in the 19th Louisiana infantry, of which he 
was shortly afterward appointed druggist, and in which capacity he served 
until the close of the war. In the fall of 1866, he settled in Clay county, 
where he engaged in the drug business and in teaching. In October, 
1878, he moved to Odessa, resumed the sale of drugs and in the following 
year sold out his entire stock and retired from business. On the 13th of 
December, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss S. E. Rupe, by whom 
he has two children: Mary A. and Phoebe. Mr. McKinney is a member 
in good standing of the A. F. & A. M., and also an active and consistent 
member of the Christian church. Although his citizenship of this county 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 675 

is of recent date, his enterprise and intelligence have very closely allied 
him with its interests. 

JOSEPH A. RYLAND, 

blaeksmith, Odessa. The subject of this sketch was born in Lafayette 
county, Mo., April 19, 1856. He is the son of John F. and Gabrielle Ry- 
land. At the age of sixteen he learned the blacksmith trade at Lexing- 
ton, this county, which occupation he has since followed with but slight 
intermissions. He was married in October 1876 to Miss Rebecca Beall, a 
native of this county, by whom he has two children, Samuel C. and Mary 
Bell. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Ryland moved to Odessa and engaged in 
his trade. In March, 1881, he entered into partnership with Mr. Bum- 
garner, the firm being styled Bumgarner & Ryland. Mr. R. is a man of 
energy and enterprise, skilled in his occupation, and not only possesses the 
confidence of his neighbors, but their patronage as well. 

GEORGE L. TOWNSEND, 

furniture-dealer, Odessa, is a native of New York, born in Washington 
county, June 11, 1848. Was raised and educated in his native state, and 
at the age of eighteen learned the carpennter's trade, which he followed 
until 1868 when he went to Kansas and engaged in railoading. He fol- 
lowed this occupation for eight years in Kansas and fwo years in Sedalia, 
this state. December 24, 1874, he was married to Miss Lizzie Cryder- 
man, of Solomon City, Kansas. They have two children: Bertha and 
Roy. March 4, 1879, he moved to Odessa, where he has since resided 
engaged in the furniture business, in the pursuit of which he has a full 
share of patronage. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 

ROBERT T. RUSSELL, 

farmer, Odessa. The subject of the following is a Kentuckian, born in 
Bourbon county, in 1830. In 1836 the family moved to Callaway county, 
this state, where his father died in 1840. What was left of the family 
then returned to Kentucky. At the age of twenty-three he went to Cal- 
ifornia, where he married in May, 1856, Mrs. Rebecca Cox. In 1859 he 
returned to Davis county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. In 
1865 he moved to Covington, Kentucky, where he remained for a short 
time engaged in merchandising. In the same year he came to this county 
and purchased land, upon a portion of which Odessa now stands. Mr. 
Russell is a public spirited, influential citizen and has contributed largely 
in various ways, towards the growth and welfare of Odessa. He is a 
member of A. F. & A. M. Has served for a number of years as master 
of the lodge at Odessa. He and his wife are members of the M. E. 
■church, south, of which he is steward. 



676 HISTORY OF" LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

S. T. CORBITT, 

furniture and undertaking, P. O. Odessa. Was born October 18, 1848, 
in Wood county, West Virginia. Came to Missouri in 1871, settled in 
Lafayette county, and engaged in the occupation of contractor and 
builder, in the vicinity of Mt. Hope. October 19, 1876, he was married 
to Miss Cena McBurney, of this county. They have one child, Mary 
Myrtle. In the spring of 1879 he moved to Odessa, where he contracted 
for and built the first hotel in the place. Mr. Corbitt is a worthy member 
of the Presbyterian church, and a ruling elder of the same. He is a man 
of genius and enterprise; whole souled and wide awake. Has an excel- 
lent trade since engaging in his present " undertaking." 

EDWARD D. RAWLINGS, 

mayor of Odessa; postoffice, Odessa; son of Jonathan and Nancy Row- 
lings; born April 6, 1823, in Mason county, Ky. In March of 1843, he 
came to this state and settled in Johnson county, where he was engaged in 
farming, with the exception of the time spent in the army, until April, 
1879, when he moved to Odessa. In the fall of the same year he was 
elected Mayor of Odessa, and in April of 1881, was re-elected, which fact 
is, of itself, a sufficient testimony of his ability to administer the affairs of 
the corporation. In 1844, he was married to Miss L. A. Bateman, of 
Fleming county, Ky., by whom he had seven children, all of whom are 
living. His wife died, January 2, 1880. In 1861, he enlisted in the con- 
federate service, Col. CockrelPs regiment. Participated in the battles of 
Lexington, Wilson's Creek, Lone Jack, and several other skirmishes. He 
entered the service with the commission of 1st lieutenant; was shortly 
afterwards elected captain of the company. He was taken prisoner at 
Lexington and parolled, after being held in durance for five months. Mr. 
R. in his religious views, conforms to the creed of the M. E. church, south, 
of which he is an honored member. Is a genial, large hearted man, to 
whom a worthy appeal for charity is never made in vain. 

W. T. ANDERSON, 

livery and sale stable, postoffice, Odessa; son of J. E. and Elizabeth Ander- 
son, was born in Campbell county, Va., July 28, 1831. Came to Missouri 
with his father in 1837, his mother having died at the home place. The 
greater part of his early life was passed on a farm. . In 1853, April 28th, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lee, of this county. Their union 
is blessed with five children: Mrs. P. M. Armstrong, Anna, Katie, Nellie 
and Jennie. In 1874, he was elected justice of the peace of Sniabar town- 
ship, and re-elected in 1878, showing conclusively the estimation of his 
fellow-citizens, with reference to his ability to administer justice. In 1879 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 677 

he moved to Odessa, where he has since resided, engaged in the livery 
business. He has established a reputation of square and honorable deal- 
ing, and enjoys his full share of public patronage. Mr. Anderson is a 
member of the A. F. & A. M., and also of the Presbyterian church. 

W. B. ROBERTS, 

harness and saddlery; postoffice, Odessa. Was born in North Carolina, 
and moved to Tennessee, w ith his parents, when a child. He has been 
engaged in the saddlery business since 1845. In 1854, he was married to 
Miss O. C. Keene, of Tenn., who died May 3, 1867, leaving him with one 
child: Samuel T., to mourn her loss. Mr. R. enlisted in the confederate 
service August, 1861, in the 28th Tennessee regiment. Was engaged in 
the following battles: Fishers Creek, Shiloh, first seige of Vicksburg, 
Baton Rouge, Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Peach 
Tree; where he was severely wounded. Was mustered out in Macon, 
Georgia, May 5, 1865. In 1869, he came to Missouri, and spent one year 
in Laclede county and two years in Johnson county. In 1872, he came to 
this county, and began business in Mt. Hope, where he remained until the 
spring of 1S79, when he moved to Odessa, where he now resides in the 
operation of quite a lucrative business in his line. Owns the only business 
house, of the kind, in the place. Is a member of the A. F. & A. M.; also 
of the Missionary Baptist church. 

WM. K. McCHESNEY. 

Mr. McChesney is a native of Washington county, Virginia; born in 
1837, where he was reared and educated. Came to Missouri in 1859, and 
settled atMt. Hope, in Lafayette county, where he was engaged in mer- 
chandising and dealing in live stock, grain, etc. In 1878 he went to 
Odessa and opened a hotel, which he is operating at the present time, 
enjoying a liberal share of the public patronage. In 1859 he was married 
to Miss Fannie Latham, of Virginia. This union is blessed with seven 
children. During the war Mr. McChesney served for three months in 
the Missouri State Guards. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, 
O. S. Deals quite largely in real estate. Postoffice is Odessa. 

DAVID M. REED, 

P. O. Odessa, Missouri; son of Charles and Margaret Reed; was born 
June 24, 1816, in Grainger county, Tennessee, and moved to Missouri 
with his parents in the spring of 1839. They first settled near Blue Mills, 
in Jackson county, and from there moved to Cass county, and then to this 
county in 1843. In the fall of 1843 he married Miss Eliza Summers, by 
whom he had seven children, and raised six: A. V. C. H., Mary M., 
Sidney E., Daniel C, Caleb S. Mr. Reed married again to M. Cynthia 



678 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

Turner, widow of C. Turner who came to this county in 1866. His 
sons are energetic, thrifty farmers, and all settled near him. 

OLIVER E. GANN, 

P. O. Odessa, Missouri, son of Issac and Anna Gann, nee Clark, of Wash- 
ington county, Tennessee, was born in 1806, and moved to this county in 
1834. In 1836 he married Miss Susannah Green, also a native of Wash- 
ington county, Tennessee. He has had eleven children, of whom seven 
are now living: Mary J., Elbert S., Amanda, Caroline, Oliver, Sally and 
Harriet. 

JOHN W. BLEDSOE, 

P. O. Bates City, Missouri; son of George and Martha Ann Bledsoe, nee 
Lauderdale, both natives of Tennessee, was born in 1838, and came with 
his parents to this county in 1839. He married Miss Susan Ann Kelley, 
daughter of John Kelley of Cooper county, who came to this state from 
Alabama. He has five children: George W., Jane J., Corah H., Katie I., 
and John Early. He served under Shelby during the war, and partic- 
ipated in most of the battles in which Shelby was engaged. 

R. P. TABB, 

P. O. Chapel Hill, Missouri. Was born in Berkley county, Virginia in 1839. 
In 1869 was married to Miss Vandiver, of Hampshire, now Mineral 
county, Virginia, and in the spring of 1879 moved to this county, pur- 
chasing the farm of Joyner. He has always been a farmer and a stock 
raiser. He has five children: Ella May, George B., Fanny P., Annie S., 
and Charles A. Mr. Tabb was educated in Huntsville, Virginia, and in 
Romney, Virginia. He served during the war in McNeill's battalion of 
Partizan Rangers. 

G. B. SATTERFIELD, 

P. O. Odessa, Missouri. Was born in 1825 in Sumner county, Tennessee. 
In 1838 he moved with his parents to this county. His father was James 
Satterfield, and his mother's name was Frances Day — both of them were 
natives of North Carolina. In February, 1857, he married Nancy Joyce, of 
Patrick county, Virginia, by whom he has five children: Sarah, Virginia 
F., J. Alexander, Mollie, and Jessie. Mr. Satterfield is a surveyor and 
farmer, and was educated at Chapel Hill, in this county. 

T. G. WILKINSON, 

P. O. Ohapel Hill. Son of James and Mary Wilkinson, of Carroll county, 
Va., was born February 16, 1836. In March, 1854, he came to Missouri, 
and Aug. 5, 1857, he was married to Miss Lulu C. Parish, by whom he 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 679 

has had thirteen children, eleven of whom are now living: James T., Ben- 
jamin M., Charles A., Earnest, Anna P., Arthur T., Henry F., Frank 
H., Rosa C, Clarence O., and Lydia A. In December, 1861, he joined 
the Missouri state guards, company I, First regiment, Slack's division. In 
December, 1861, he was captured at the Blackwater capture, confined in 
Lexington a short time, and then released. In August, 1862, he enlisted 
in the confederate service, and was at Lone Jack and Columbus. In Sep- 
tember, First regiment Missouri cavalry was organized, and S. Bullard 
was commissioned captain of his company and Wilkinson first lieutenant. 
In 1863 Capt. Bullard joined the guerrillas, and he was promoted to the 
captaincy. As private and officer he was in many battles, as Carthage, 
Drywood, Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Springfield, 
Hartsville, Helena, and numberless skirmishes. He, with Capt. Thorn- 
ton, assisted in capturing Liberty Arsenal. He was with his regiment in 
the last raid through Missouri, and was in the battles and skirmishes of the 
raid, as Sedalia, Jefferson City, Lexington, Blues, and Westport. At the 
surrender at Shreveport, June, 1S65, Capt. Wilkinson's command surren- 
dered to the Ninth Illinois, the same regiment that he had assisted in cap- 
turing the year before on Red river, and being old acquaintances, they had 
a grand jollification at the surrender. 

A. R. PATTERSON, 

P. O. Odessa. Was born in the state of Kentucky in 1836, and came to 
this state in 1849 with his parents, and has lived in this county ever since. 
Has never married. In 1862 he enlisted in the confederate army, and was 
discharged in 1865. He fought in a number of battles and was captured 
at Vicksburg and exchanged and rejoined his command, and served to the 
end. The city of Odessa is located partly on his land, and he has 100 
acres adjoining. 

JAMES P. PROCTOR, 

P. O. Odessa. Son of Thomas and Polly Proctor. Was born in Ken- 
tucky, and came with his parents to this state in 1838. In 1867 he mar- 
ried Mrs. Rachel Helm, widow of James Helm and daughter of Charles 
Glover. In 1861 he enlisted under Gen Shelby in the confederate army, 
and fought in several battles. Was captured near Lexington, and con- 
find until the end of the war. 

STEPHENS. WHITE, 

P. O. Odessa. Son of Joseph and Susan White, who moved to this 
county from Tennessee in 1832, was born in Green county, East Tennessee, 
April 5, 1817, and now lives within one mile and a half from where his 
parents first settled. He married Miss Mary C. Ferguson, of Pettis 



680 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

county, and has three sons, who now live with their father or near him. 
He owns a very fertile farm of 220 acres at the head of the Greenton 
valley, one mile from the town of Odessa; His father, Joseph White, and 
Mr. Fristoe, one a new and the other an old school Baptist, were among 
the first preachers in that region. 

NOAH P. ADAMS, 

P. O. Odessa. Was born in this county in 1844, and was married to Miss 
Mary E. Muir, December 1, 1870. In 1861 he enlisted in the Missouri 
state guard, then in the confederate army and served to the end of the 
war. Was in the battles of Lexington, Lone Jack, Westport, and Dry- 
wood, where he was captured and confined at Rock Island to the close of 
war. He now resides on the Muir farm, and is an industrious and suc- 
cessful farmer. 

WASHINGTON BARDSLEY, 

postoffice Odessa. Son of Daniel B. Bardsley, of Connecticut, who 
moved to Missouri about the year 1833, and was married in 1838, to Miss 
Lydia Seagraves, a native of Kentucky. Washington was born July 7, 
1840, and was married in September, 1866, to Miss Catherine Cox, 
daughter of Joseph Cox. In 1861 he enlisted in the confederate army, 
and was in a number of battles, as Springfield, Oak Hill, Pt. Gibson, 
and Vicksburg, where he was captured, held a prisoner until January 1864, 
then released. He returned to the service, and served to the end of the 
war. He owns 106 acres of fine land bordering Odessa on the south. 

WILLIAM H. EDWARDS, 

P. O. Odessa, Missouri, son of Feilding and Jane Edwards. Was born 
in Woodford county, Kentucky, in 1838. In 1868 he was married to Miss 
Rebecca Henry, of this county. In 1861 he enlisted in company A, 5th 
Kentucky cavalry. Afterwards was in Gen. Morgan's command. Was 
in numerous battles. Was taken prisoner and confined in Fort Delaware, 
from which place he managed to escape, by " falling in " with the car- 
penters, and marching out with them. 

THOMAS McCHESNEY, 

"i*rO. Odessa. Was born February 17, 1816, in Washington county, Va. 
His father, also Thomas McChesney, served in the war of 1812, and both 
of his grandfathers served in the revolutionary war under Gen. Camp- 
bell. Mr. McChesney came to this state in 1837 and entered land, and 
then returned to Virgina. August 13, 1840, he was married to Miss 
Mary E. King, daughter of Maj. Wm. King. He then, in 1842, moved 
to this county, and the next year, 1843, settled upon his present home- 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 681 

stead, and is one of the large land owners of the County. He has seven chil- 
dren ; his oldest son died while in the confederate army. His grandmother 
was Susan Berry and his mother's name was Susan Sharpe, daughter of 
John Sharpe, a revolutionary soldier. 

DR. JOHN PERRIE, 

P. O. Odessa. Is the son of John Perrie, who moved to this county in 
1845, and settled at Lexington. Dr. Perrie was born in Maryland, in 
1840, and came to Lexington with his parents. He first taught in the 
Masonic college in Lexington, then studied medicine with Dr. John Bull, 
of Lexington, and graduated at the St. Louis medical college in 1868, 
since which time he has been practicing in this county. In 1866 he was 
married to Miss Mollie Keith, daughter of Dr. Jas. M. Keith, of this county. 
He is now settled at Mt. Hope, in Sniabar township, and is doing a good 
practice. Previous to studying medicine he graduated at Jones' commer- 
cial college in St. Louis. He has three children living: Eddie, Claud and 
Bettie Bell. During the war Dr. Perrie served as hospital steward, in 
Price's army. He served until the close of the war and surrendered in 
Louisiana. 

STERLING POWERS, 
P. O. Odessa. Was born July 5, 1832, in Kenton county, Ky., and moved 
to Missouri in 1852. He is the son of Richard C. and Judah Powers. 
His father came to Kentucky from Richmond, Virginia, and his mother 
was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. On the 20th of June, 1858, he 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Cox, daughter of Joseph Cox, of this 
county. Mr. Powers owns 232 acres of prairie land, and by his energy 
and sagacity has made himself a comfortable home. He has two sons 
living: Thomas and Charles. 

ALFRED FERGUSON, 
P. O. Bates City. Was born in 1806 in Culpepper county, Virginia. In 
1827 he moved to Ohio, and in 1867 to this county. He married Miss 
Peterson, who came from Virginia to Ohio, in 1818. He has six children 
living: Jonas T., Frank, Henry, Jacob, Alpheus and Elizabeth. 

JACOB A. LYONS, 
P. O. Bates City. Was born in 1835, in Carroll county, Virginia. In 
1866 he moved to this county, and in 1868 was married to Miss Mar- 
tha A. Adams, step-daughter of Wm. Harris. They have six children 
living: Andrew J., Mary C, Noah B., Lulu M., Wm. O. and Ora 
E. Mr. Lyons has twelve stands of Italian bees. They have done but 
little during the present year (1881), but in ordinary seasons yield from 
100 to 125 pounds of honey per hive. 



682 HISTORY OF LAFAVETTE COUNTY. 

T. J. MIDDLETON, 

P. O. Bates City. Was born in the state of Ohio, Green county, in the 
year 1827. In March, 1852, he was married to Miss Nancy E. Keiter, by 
whom he had four children : John W ., Mary A., Susan M. and Frederick 
K. His wife dying, he was again married, in September, 1864, to Miss 
Hannah L. Stephens, by whom he had eight children: Annie J., Chas. T. 
Alfred S., Olivia T., Louisa M., Thomas P., James W. and Frank. Mr. 
Middleton's wheat crop last year (1880), averaged 33£ bushels per acre. 

ALEXANDER WILKINSON, 

P. O. Bates City. Was born in Carroll county, Virginia, and is the son 
of James and Mary B. Wilkinson. His mother's maiden name was Lyon. 
In 1854 he came to Missquri and married Miss Elizabeth F. Wolsenbar- 
ger. They have six children: Mary B., John C, Wm. F., Dianna L., 
Joseph M. and James M. His business is farming and stock raising, in 
partnersnip with his brother, John W. Wilkinson. 

J. TWOGOOD. 

P. O. Bates City, Mo.; born in the state of New York in 1850; he emi- 
grated to the state of California, and from thence came to this county in 
1873. In 1874 he was married to Miss Smales, of this county, and has 
one child living, a daughter, Estelle. 

F. L. RAMSEY, 

P. O. Odessa, Mo.; son of Samuel B. Ramsey; was born in Johnson 
county, Mo., in 1836, and has now resided in this county for the last 
twelve years. In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary E. McChesney,and 
has four children: Walter M., Arthur Eugene, Thomas Bracken and 
Lyle G. In 1861 he joined the confederate army, and served to the close, 
in 1865. He was captured at Vicksburg but was afterwards exchanged, 
and rejoined the army. Mr. Ramsey is a successful farmer, and stands 
fair in this county as an honest, industrious man. 

J. A. WHITSETT, 

P. O. Odessa, Mo.; was born in the year 1828, in Lafayette county, and 
is the son of J. S. Whitsett, who came to this state from Kentucky at a 
very early day. In 1864 he married Miss Mary C. Powell, of Jackson 
county, Mo., and has one child, James A. Whitsett. Mr. Whitsett is a 
large and successful farmer, which vocation he has pursued all his life. 
He is a good citizen, and a reliable, upright man. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 683 

WILLIAM HARRIS, 

P. O. Chapel Hill, Mo.; was born April 12th, 1827, in Sumner county, 
Tennessee. In November, 1828, he came with his parents to Missouri, 
and settled in this county, one mile west of Chapel Hill, where he was 
raised and educated, and has passed most of his life. Soon after he was 
grown he married Miss Mary E. Joyner, and settled upon the farm on 
which he now lives. They have five children: Amanda Jane, Josiah Frank- 
lin, Wm. Isaac, Judah Cathrine, and Sarah, all educated at Chapel Hill. 
Mr. Harris has farmed all his life, and is a steady, honest and respected 
citizen. 

S. L. CHEATHAM, 

P. O. Bates City, Mo.; was born in Charlotte county, Virginia, and came 
to Benton county, in this state in 1842. From there he moved to Pettis 
county, and from thence to this county in 1866. In 1851 he married Miss 
Mary S. Parsons, by whom he has ten children living: Sarah, Emma, 
Susan, Ada, Alice, Nancy, Naomi, Joseph, James and William. Sarah 
is now Mrs. Bates, and Emma is now Mrs. Campbell. Mr. Cheatham 
has devoted his whole attention to farming, to which he was raised. He 
has succeeded well, and has now a first-class farm. He is an honest, 
sterling and upright citizen. 

DR. H. H. DEAN, 

P. O. Chapel Hill, Mo.; was born in 1827 in Carroll county, Virginia, 
and came to this state in 1866, settling at Chapel Hill, in this county, 
where he has lived ever since. In 1858 he was married to Miss Susan 
Wilkinson, by whom he has had six children: Nannie B., J. Henry, 
John E., Elkanah B. and Tilden T.; Abner E. died in 1876. His wife 
dying, he re-married in 1877, to Miss Lena A. South, and by this union 
has two children: Moses S. and Joseph A. He belongs to the Botanic 
School of Medicine, and has a large and successful practice. In partner- 
ship with his nephews, H. H. & Taylor Dean, he has a store of genera 
merchandise, at Chapel Hill, and they have a large business. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 
THOMAS M. SMALL. 

Mr. Small was born in Mason county, Kentucky, in 1814. At the 
age of fifteen he went with his parents to St. Louis county, and settled on 
a farm. In 1845 he came to Lafayette county, and first settled in Lexing- 
ton, where he was engaged for two or three years in operating a saw-mill. 



684 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

He subsequently moved to a farm in Washington township, where he has 
since resided, engaged in its cultivation. January 7, 1843, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Barnes, of Mason county, Kentucky; they 
have four children: Mrs. Mattie McKinney, Henry F., Nelson R. and 
Waller M. Mr. Small is a member of the Christian church. Post-office, 
Lexington. 

WILLIAM L. SMITH. 

The subject of the following sketch is a native of Bourbon county, 
Kentucky, and at the age of six years came with his parents to Lafayette 
county, where he has resided ever since, engaged in farming since arriving 
at his majority. April 18th, 1867, he married Miss Mary, daughter of 
John Young, and grand-daughter of Col. James Young, of Lafayette 
county. They have five children living: James Y., George R., Stod- 
dard F., Upton B. and William. Mr. Smith is a member of the Christian 
church, and Mrs. Smith of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In 
1862 Mr. S. enlisted in the confederate service, Capt. Wither's company, 
Col. Elliott's regiment. He served four months and was in the battle of 
Lexington. He has a good record as a soldier, and stands high in the 
esteem of his fellows. Post-office, Mayview. 

PETER TIEFEL. 

Mr. Tiefel was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1828, where he lived until 
1847, when he came with his parents to the United States, and settled in 
Ohio. He remained there until November, 1865, when he removed to 
Lafayette county, where he now lives, engaged in farming. Mr. Tiefel 
was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Smith, of Ohio, by whom he has 
eight children. Is a member of the Lutheran church. He is a fit repre- 
sentative of that class of Germans who are noted for industry and econ- 
omy, and by continuous application of these two qualities he has been 
eminently successful in business, securing for himself a fine farm of 320 
acres and a comfortable home for his family. Postoffice, Mayview. 

J. M. WITHERS, 

farmer and stockraiser; postoffice Mayview. Born in Jessamine county, 
Ky., March 3, 1827. His parents, Peter and Evaline Withers, were from 
Virginia. At the age of 12 he left Kentucky and went to Bloomington, 
Ills., where he remained for a few years. At the age of 18 he enlisted for 
service in the Mexican war, entering Co. B, 4th Ills, regulars. Shortly 
after enlisting he was elected first lieutenant of the company, In this lat- 
ter capacity he served one year, participating in the battles of Vera Cruz 
and Cerro Gordo. In 1849 he was married to Miss Mary Drysdale, of 
his native county, Kentucky. They have six children — Wm. P., Mrs. Eva 




CITY OF SAINT LOUIS, 1881. 




BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF KANSAS CITY, MO., 1881, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 685 

Worthington, Matilda, Sallie, Washington J. and Jessamine L. Mr. 
Withers came to Missouri and settled in this county, Washington town- 
ship, in 1851. Was engaged in freighting across the plains for several 
years. At the breaking out of the civil war he was in command of an 
independent company, which entered the state service, C. S. A., Gen. 
Raines' division. They were engaged in the battles of Carthage, Wil- 
son's Creek, Drywood and Lexington. Capt. Withers was captured at 
Springfield and taken to St. Louis, thence to Alton, where he was detained 
for eight months and then paroled. His company was disbanded in 1862. 
Mr. W. is an active and consistent member of the Baptist church, and a 
man honored and respected by all. 

ELI ADAMS. 

Mr. Adams, son of Jacob and Nancy Adams, is a native of Claiborn 
county, Tenn.; born June 12, 1817. Was reared and educated there. In 
1836 he moved, with his parents, to Missouri, and settled in Lafayette 
county, where has since resided, engaged in farming. Oct. 28, 1841, he 
married Miss Jane Powell, of Lafayette county, Mo. Thirteen children 
were born to them, ten now living. In 1840 he was elected constable of 
Sniabar township. Served two years. Postorfice, Lexington. 

COL. J. S. WHITE, 

farmer and stockraiser; postoffice May view. Is a native of Mason Co., 
Ky., born Jan. 27, 1838. Came to Missouri in 1857, and settled in Ray 
county. In 1861, Sept. 23, he enlisted in the federal service, 16th Ky. 
Inf. Engaged in the battle of Joy Mountain and Sherman's campaign 
against Atlanta. He enlisted as a private, but as his reward for gallant 
and meritorious conduct he gradually rose, step by step, until he was 
finally mustered out, May 15, 1865, as lieutenant-colonel. During the war 
he was wounded three times. In 1872, Feb. 22, he was united in mar- 
riage to Mrs. Mary F. Johnson, of Ray county, by whom he has one 
child, his wife having three by her first husband. In same year, 1872, Mr. 
White moved to this county and located in Washington township, where 
he still resides, engaged in the cultivation of a fine farm. 

ARTHUR BROWN, 

of the firm of Arthur Brown & Co., drugs and groceries, Mayview. Was 
born in Breckenridge Co., Ky., July 20, 1836. He is the son of Wm. B. 
C. and Matilda J. Brown, who came to this county in 1844 and settled in 
Washington township. During the early and greater part of his life he 
was engaged in farming. From 1873 to 1875 he was located at Indepen- 
dence, engaged in the drug business. In the latter year he came to May- 

EE 



686 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

view and engaged in the same business, entering the firm of which he is 
now a member. The firm have a large and good class of customers, to 
whom they are courteous and attentive. The business and social qualities 
of Mr. B. are first class in every respect. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted 
in the confederate army, Capt. Bledsoe's company, Martin's battalion of 
artillery. He fought in the following battles: Chickamauga, Vicksburg, 
Corinth, Port Hudson, Pea Ridge and Lexington. Was seriously wounded 
at the battle of Pea Ridge. Was paroled at Nashville in June, 1865. 
August 10, 1867, he was married to Miss Henrietta Lee Fulkerson, of 
this county. They have five children — Henrietta, John F., Mary Lee, 
Lettie and Chas. R. Mr. Brown has been a resident of this county for 
over a quarter of acentury, contributing largely towards its improvement. 

ISAAC W. WHITSETT, 

of the firm of Whitsett & Taylor, general merchandise; P. O. Mayview. 
Was born in Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, July 13, 1838. 
Came to this county, with his parents, at an early age. The family set- 
tled in Washington township, on a farm, where the subject of this sketch 
passed his youth, cultivating the soil in summer, and his intellect in winter, 
attending the public school. In 1858, August 19, he was married to Miss 
Mary J. Talbott, of Lafayette county. They have one child, Gracie. In 
the summer of 1862 Mr. Whitsett went south for his health. Returning 
shortly after, he was captured, near Bower's Mill, on Spring river, and held 
prisoner for a short time, at Independence. He then joined the U. S. army, 
and was in service thirteen months. He took part in several skirmishes, 
but fortunately escaped injury. In 1876 he went to Tabo, where he was 
engaged in business for three years; after which he wentto Mayview, and 
again went into business, entering the firm of which he is now a member. 
The firm has a good trade, which is gradually and steadily increasing. 
Mr. Whitsett also devotes a portion of his time to the practice of law. He 
is a member of the I. O. G. T., and also of the Christian Church. 

T. C. WILSON, 

of the firm of Wilson & Benning, lumber and hardware; P. O. Mayview. 
Is a native of Ohio; born in 1843. He is the son of Robert H. and Mary 
Wilson, who came to this county in 1857, and settled on a farm. Being 
born and bred a farmer, Mr. Wilson has followed that business during the 
greater part of his life. In 1879 he came to Mayview, and engaged in the 
mercantile trade, which he still follows, having, by his enterprise and close 
attention to business, secured his full share of the public patronage. 
December 10, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Smarr, of 
this county, by whom he has four children : Florence, Effie, Pinkie, and 
one not yet named. Mr. Wilson is a staunch member of the M. E. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 687 

Church, South; active and energetic in public as well as private enter- 
prises, and a man for whom society has nothing but commendation. 

R. M. TAYLOR, 

of the firm of Whitsett & Taylor, Mayview, was born in Todd county, 
Kentucky, in 1838. Here he was raised and educated. Has followed 
farming during the greater part of his life. December 19, 1867, he was 
married to Miss Mary Bourne, of Logan county, Kentucky. In 1878 he 
came to Missouri, and settled on a farm, where he remained until the 
spring of 1881, when he came to Mayview, and became a partner in the 
above firm. He has three children, two girls and one boy, named as fol- 
lows: Gertrude, Fannie, and Samuel F. Mr. Taylor is a member of the 
I. O. O. F., and also of the Christian Church. While living in Todd 
county, Kentucky, his fellow citizens gave evidence of their confidence in 
his ability and integrity, by electing him to offices of trust for several 
terms. 

THOMAS P. PAXTON, 

grain and flour-dealer, P. O. Mayview. The subject of this sketch 
was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1850. He is the son of Wil- 
liam and Sarah Paxton. Was educated at Washington, Lee University. 
Since his graduation he has been engaged in the drug business, until 
within the last few years. In 1873 he came to Missouri, and settled in 
Warrensburg, where he resided until the year 1880, when he moved to 
Mayview, and engaged in the grain business. He handles large quanti- 
ties of flour and grain, and is a man of business tact and integrity, posses- 
sing the confidence of all who deal with him. He was married Novem- 
ber 15, 1877, to Miss Lulu Kerdolph, of Lexington Missouri, by whom 
he has one child, Daisy. Mr. Paxton is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 

JOHN P. HERR, 

carpenter, postoffice, Mayview. Is a native of Washington county, Mary- 
land; born April 6, 1818. At the age of 16 years he learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, which he has followed for over 30 years. He came to Mis- 
souri in 1836, locating in Franklin county, where he remained for one 
year, and then moved to Lexington, where he resided for 26 years, work- 
ing at his trade. He then moved to the present site of Mayview, and in 
company with George Houx, laid out the town. Its growth and present 
prosperity is due to the energy and enterprise of John P. Herr and others 
like him. Mr. Herr is a member of the I. O. G. T., and also of the Chris- 
tian church. His grandfather was a soldier of the revolution and his father 
of the war of 1812. 



688 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

M. A. HAYDEN, 

merchant; postoffice, May view. Was born in Boone county, Mo., where 
he was raised and educated. Has been engaged in farming principally, 
during the greater part of his life. In 1861, he enlisted in the confederate 
army, in Col. Cordle's regiment, Moulton's brigade. Was mustered out 
in June, 1865, near Hempstead, Texas. In same year, he came to this 
county, and engaged in farming, until the spring of 1879, when he moved 
to Mayview, and engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1868, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Eliza Proctor, of Lafayette county. They have one child 
living: James. His wife dying in July, 1873, he again married Miss Mary 
E. Wheatly, of this county. The nuptials were celebrated Dec. 19, 1876. 
Mr. Wheatly is a member of the Christian church, in good standing. His 
parents, Abner and Amanda Hayden, came to Missouri in an early day. 
His father is now the proprietor of a livery and feed stable in Mayview. 
Mr. Hayden has a good trade and is a genial, wholesouled gentleman. 

HENRY C. EWING, 

farmer and stockraiser; postoffice, Mayview. Was born June 22, 1838, in 
Lafayette county. Is the son Chatham S. and Mary B. Ewing. Educa- 
ted at Chapel Hill College, in this county. Was married Dec. 8, 1874, to 
Miss Belle J. Harrelson, of this county. They have one child: Chatham 
M. Mr. Ewing, during the greater part of his life, has given his atten- 
tion almost entirely to the occupation of farming. That he has made a 
success of it is fully evidenced by the appearance of his fine farm, situated 
one and a half miles southwest of Mayview. He is a member of the 
Grange, and also a ruling elder of the Mt. Hebron church. 

THOMAS T. PUCKETT, 

firm of R. Puckett & Son, merchants; postoffice, Mayview. Is the son of 
R. and Barbara Puckett, and was born in Shelby county, Ky., Sept. 21, 
1846. His family came to Missouri and settled in Lexington, in 1850. He 
was educated at the Masonic College of said city. In 1867, Oct. 22d, he 
was united in marriage to Miss S. B. Wilson, of Frankfort, Ky., by whom 
he has seven children: Wilford, Oscar, Hugh, Forrest, Virgil, Lena and 
Abbie. In 1869, he and his father went to Mayview and established the 
firm of R. Puckett & Son, general merchandising. They have a good 
run of custom and their business is gradually and steadily growing. Mr. 
Puckett was with Gen. Price in his last raid through the state. He was 
engaged in the battles of Westport, Mine Creek and Newtonia. Was 
captured at Gilflap's Ferry, taken to Rock Island, Ills., where he was 
imprisoned for seven months. He is a leading member of the Christian 
church and stands high in the community, as an honorable Christian man. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 689 

HON. C. L. EWING, 

farmer, Mayview post office., son of Thompson M. and Mary Ewing, was 
born in Todd county, Ky., May 10, 1827; was educated at Princeton, Ky., 
and Lebanon, Tenn. In 1844 he came to this state and county, where he 
continued to reside till date engaged in farming. In June of 1846 he 
enlisted to serve in the Mexican war, in Col. John J. Hardin's regiment, 
Capt. James D. Morgan's company, raised in Quincy, 111. He was 
engaged in the battle of Buena Vista and honorably discharged in June 
of the following year. In 1851, Dec. 16th, he was married to Miss Nellie 
A. Ewing, of Lafayette county, They have had four children, two of 
whom are living; Mary S. and Charles L., Jr. In 1861 he enlisted in the 
M. S. G., Neightmans brigade. Entered the service as first lieutenant. 
Participated in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek and Lexington. 
Was mustered out in December of same year at Osceola, Mo. In 1876 
the democrats of the western district of Lafayette county, honored him by 
nominating and electing him to a seat in the house of representatives. He 
served as chairman of the committee on roads and highways and also as a 
member of the committee on internal improvements. As a member he 
carried weight and influence, and acquitted himself in a manner which 
gave evidence that his constituency had made no mistake when they placed 
their confidence in him. Mr. Ewing is an active and consistent member 
of the Presbyterian church. 

REV. JOHN ALBERT PRATHER, 

pastor of C. P. church, P. O. Odessa. Son of John and Mary Prather, 
was born in North Carolina, Jan. 24, 1822. In 1840, he came with his 
mother, three sisters and one brother, to Mo., Clay county. His father 
died while the family still lived in N. Carolina. He joined the Barnett 
Presbytery in 1843, as a candidate for the ministry. Was licensed April 
12, 1845, and ordained April 5, 1846, by the Platte Presbytery. Mr. 
Prather spent several years in the northwestern counties of Mo., preach- 
ing to different congregations. He conducted the first religious service 
ever held in Mary ville, Nodaway county. In the spring of 1860, he came 
to Lafayette county and located in Washington township, where he now 
resides, having in charge several of the churches in the neighborhood. 
He was actively engaged in the ministry during the war. Feb. 14, 18 — , 
he was united in marriage to Miss Tennessee Johnson, of Tenn. Their 
union is blessed with eight children: Mrs. Cyrus Pettus, Wm. T., Joseph 
A., Chatham Ewing, Edwin Lee, Nora Johnson, Clarence Alvin, Mary 
Kavanaugh. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Was appointed 
judge of county court, by Gov. Hardin ; then elected for two years, and 
upon the expiration of the term, was re-elected for a term of four years; 



690 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

conclusive evidence of the confidence of his fellow citizens in his ability and 
integrity as judge. During his residence of twenty years in the county, as 
pastor and judge, he has endeared himself in the hearts of his fellows, and 
rendered himself a most invaluable citizen. 

REV. L. F. CLEMENS, 
minister of the C. P. church, Mayview post office. The subject of this 
brief sketch is a native Missourian, born in Saline county, April 19, 1844. 
His mother died when he was quite young. His father went to California 
in 1850 and there he, too, died, thus leaving him an orphan at the tender 
age of six years. Was raised and partially educated in Johnson county. 
In 1869 he entered the McGee college in Macon county and there com- 
pleted his education. He then became a candidate for the ministry before 
the Lexington Presbytery by which he was licensed and ordained in 1874. 
He immediatelv took charge of Mt Hebron church where he still preaches 
every Sabbath. February 8, 1865, he was married to Mary J. Turner, of 
Johnson county, by whom he has had six children: Mary Rebecca, Ionia 
F., Susan L., Hugh M., Lizzie Ewing and Cordelia C. Mr. Clemens is 
a member of the A. F. & A. M. and a man eminently fitted to inspire 
the confidence and esteem of the little flock over whom he presides as 
pastor. 

SAMUEL K. BEALL. 
Mr. Beall was born in Montgomery count}-, Md., where he was raised. 
He was educated at Rockville Academy, of his native county. Came to 
Mo., with his parents in the fall of 1850, and settled in Lafayette county, 
where he has since engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a mem- 
ber in good standing of the C. P. church. He is the son of Samuel 
Magruder and Mary Ann Beall, who were both natives of Montgomery 
Co. Md., and who died in this county at the advanced age, respectively 
69 and 77 years. Mr. Beall's postoffice address is Greenton.. 

THOMAS J. POWELL. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Lafa}-ette county, in 1840. Has 
been a continuous resident of this county since his birth, obtaining as lib- 
eral an education in the meantime, as the limited school facilties of the 
county in that dav would permit. At the present time he is actively 
engaged in farming and stockraising. He was married in 1859, to Miss 
Dorinda Hatton, of Johnson county. Thirteen children have been born to 
them, ten of whom are now living. Mr. Powell enlisted in 1862, in the 
enrolled Mo. milita, under Capt. Summers. He served eighteen months. 
He is the son of Richard Powell, who was the first settler of Washington 
township. Is an active member of the Christian church. His P. O. is 
Lexington. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 691 

CAPT. GEO. W. SUMNER. 

Capt. Sumner is an Englishman by Birth; born March 22, 1819. He 
emigrated in 1831, locating in New York City, where he remained until 
1851, when he removed to Lafayette county, Mo., and settled on a farm 
where he has since resided, engaged in its cultivation and improvement. 
In 1S48, he married Miss Martha Bradley, of Kentucky; by which mar- 
riage they have five children. Mrs. Sumner died in May 1859. He was 
again married to Laura Hatton, of Lafayette county, the nuptials being 
celebrated May 1, 1861. They have four children. In Aug., 1862, Mr. 
Sumner enlisted in the federal service, company I., E. M. M. Was 
elected Capt. of the company. After six months service this company 
was disbanded and reorganized in the 5th Provisional regiment, Capt. 
Sumner still retaining the command. He was in the service 18 months 
The captain's record as a soldier and a gentleman is one of which he may 
well be proud. Is a member of the I. O. O. F. Post office is Lexington 

GEORGE WESLEY FOX. 

The subject of the following is a native of Greenborough county, W. 
Va:, where he was reared and educated. In 1866 he came to Missouri 
and settled in Lafayette county, where he has since resided, engaged in 
farming and trading, in which occupations he has been unusually success- 
ful. In 1877 he lea 1 to the marriage altar Miss Martha E. Hill, of Lafay- 
ette county. By this marriage they have two children. Mrs. Fox has 
three children by her former husband. Mr. Fox is a member of the A. 
F. and A. M. His postoffice is Odessa. 

WM. T. GAMMON. 

The subject of the following sketch is a native of Pocahontas county, 
W. Va.; born August 6, 1826. Was raised and educated there. In 1861 
he enlisted in the confederate army, joining the 25th Virginia Regiment. 
Was elected captain of his company. At the battle of Cross Keys, June 
8, 1862, he was severely wounded, and failing to improve where he was, 
he went to Georgia for the purpose of recruiting his health. He remained 
there until March, 1869, when he removed to Lafayette county, where he 
has since resided engaged in farming and stock raising. In August, 1874, 
he was elected probate judge of Lafayette county on the Democratic 
ticket, in which capacity he served with credit to himself and honor to the 
county, until May, 1880. Was married in March, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth 
A. Slaven, of Pocahontas county, Va. Five children are the fruit of this 
marriage, all living, viz.: Massie A., Ella F., Thus. E., Wm. L., and 
Minnie. Mr. Gammon is a member of the Grange of which he is lec- 
r. He is also a member of the O. S. Presbyterian church. His 



692 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

maternal grandfather served in the revolutionary war, was engaged in the 
battle of Cowpens. The judge is one of the successful farmers of the 
county, and gives considerable attention to the breeding of Shorthorn 
cattle and Poland China hogs. Postoffice address, Odessa. 

WM. P. KEITH. 

Mr. Keith, the owner and proprietor of Mayview Mills, is a native of 
Scotland; born in Aberdeen, March, 1838, where he was reared and edu- 
cated until he arrived at the age of 18, when he came to Canada, where he 
spent thirteen years engaged in milling. Came to Lafayette county in 
March, 1870, and was engaged in the same occupation for a year or so in 
Lexington. Was married November 7, 1865, to Miss Annie Cumming, 
of Canada, formerly of Scotland. They have four children living, viz.. 
"William, John, Isabella, and Charles. In 1871 he went to Mayview and 
purchased the " Mayview Mills," of which he has since been proprietor. 
Mr. Keith is a member of the C. P. church. His ancestry on his father's 
side were connected with some of the Scottish lords who sided with 
Charles, the Pretender, upon whose downfall their property was confis- 
cated, and they fled to Germany. Mr. Keith has been quite successful in 
his business operations, and is one of the influential citizens of the county. 
Postoffice address is Mayview. 

HON. H.C. CHILES. 

The subject of this brief sketch, a man closely identified with the inter- 
ests of this county, was born in Montgomery county, Ky., July 6, 1818. 
Was reared and educated in his native county. In 1859 he came to Mis- 
souri and settled in Lafayette county, where he has since resided, engaged 
principally in farming and trading. In 1840 he was united in marriage to 
Miss Maria Wilson, of Bourbon county, Ky., who died in 1845, leaving 
two children. In 1848 he was married again to Mrs. Ruth Fearing, of 
Helena, Ark. By this marriage they have one child. Mrs. Chiles died in 
1865. In 1868 he married Mrs. Lavina C. Graves, of Lexington. This 
union is blessed with one child. In 1862 Mr. Chiles was elected to repre- 
sent this county in the state legislature, in which he served for one term. 
He is a member of the Grange, of which he is master. Postoffice address 
is Mayview. 

JAMES W. MILLER. 

Mr. Miller is a native of Augusta county, Va., born February 7, 1836 
where he was raised and educated. Came with his parents to Missouri 
in 1854, and settled in Saline county, where he remained until the fall oi 
1861, when he moved to Lafayette county. In December, 1861, he was 
married to Miss Ella Ryland, daughter of Judge John F. Ryland, of 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 693 

Lafayette county. They have six children living, viz. : Mrs. Mary E. Lit- 
tleston, John O., James W., Tacitus, Carrie, and Xenophon. Mr. Miller's 
postoffice address is Odessa. 

J. W. BAILEY. 

Mr. Bailey was born in Fauquier county, Va., March 13, 1830. He is 
the son of Carr and Elizabeth Bailey, who came to Lafayette county in 
1838. Here J. W. grew to manhood, and has since been engaged in 
farming, principally, with the exception of six years spent in California, 
and two years passed in New Mexico, engaged in freighting. In 1863 he 
led to the marriage altar Miss Eliza Francis Maddox, of Ray county. 
Mr. Bailey served six months in the Missouri State Guards under Capt. 
Withers. Participated in the battle of Lexington. Is an active and con- 
sistent member of the C. P. church, and enjoys the respect and esteem of 
his fellow-citizens in a high degree. Postoffice, Mayview. 

JOHN M. EWING. 

Mr. Ewing is a native of this county; born April 8, 1827. He is the son 
of Chatham S. Ewing who came to this county from Logan county, Ky., 
in 1821. The subject of this sketch now lives in Washington township, 
where he has resided since 1853, engaged in farming. Was married 
Jan. 30th, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Jane Butler, of Lafayette county, for- 
merly of Kentucky. They have four children by this marriage, viz.: 
Thomas B., Chatham H., John R. and Walker E. Mrs. Ewing is a 
daughter of Thomas Butler and a grand-daughter of Moses Walker, of 
Jessamine county, Ky. Her sister, Miss Susan J. Butler, is living 
with her. Mr. Ewing and wife are members of the C. P. church. 

CHATHAM S. EWING, 

deceased. Mr. Ewing, one of the pioneer settlers of this county, was 
born in Logan county, Ky., Nov. 30th, 1800, and died Sept. 6th, 1872. He 
came to Lafayette county, Nov. 30th, 1821. He was married in October 
1823, to Miss Mary Barnett Young, of Lafayette county, originally from 
Tennessee. They raised three children, all of whom are living in this 
county. Mrs. Ewing died May 1, 1840. 

FREDERICK W. RIDINGS. 

Mr. Ridings was born in Frederick county, Va., in 1841, where he 
grew to manhood and received his education. He came to Missouri in 
1869, and settled in Lafayette county, where he has since resided, engaged 
in cultivating a fine farm. He served four years in the Confederate army, 
enlisting in Capt. Cutchaw's Battery, which served under " Stonewall " 
Jackson until his death and afterwards under Gen. Early. Participated in 



|9! -TORY OF LAFAYET7 7Y. 

:>.; ...:;. ls ;:' Winchester, WaVderness, both il Manassas, Cedar Mountain 

. ral other engagements. Ws cunded during the 

In 18 .is marr bs Laura Samael, of Nf »Va. They 

, one child living, viz.: William. Mr. Riding - e n erget ic, 

A.-.vs oa the alert to advance the in:, I his 

adopted county. In H*78 in addition to the town of Mayview, 

r.:> "Ci.crrL; caress. 

R. P. MARSHALL. 

Mr. Marshall is a native of this state and count}- : born Jan \W.> 

raised and educated in this uuunly. After becoming of age he 
engaged in the drug business at Wellington for a period of two years, 
since which he has been engaged in farming. In May. 1S61, he 
enlisted in Capt. Wither's Company, engaged in state ser\ hich 

cse r six months. He then went south and joined Col. Cockrell's 

regiment. In September of 186S is transferred to Gen. J. She- 

brigade. He participated in about fifty engagements in which generals 
commanded, besides numerous other skirmishes. Was wounded and 
taken prisoner twice — the first time was held at Alton for six months and 
then exchanged, and the second time was taken at Vicksburg and shortly 
afterwards paroled at Shreveport, June 1 . 1863. was married Sept. 

I 9, to Miss Jane F. Sanburn, of this countv. They have five 
: -_■-. . : Wan B . Hear E . Lu:hrr. C>.:.r!.:r >. Arthur W. Mr. 
?•!..:> ...'.'? 7 »::~:r :.r\~rcss :> M.iyview. T:.: :.:;:'■.;: ;::::r ^: : ::: of 

larshall, daughter of Wm. V as born 

in East Tenner rch 29th, Lfi In the fall of 1817 Mr. White 

removed his family to Missouri and passed the winter in Lincoln ecu 
In the spring of the foil: _ settled in Saline county, where 

they remained until 1S24, when they moved to this county and settled near 
Lexington, Although quite advanced in years, Mrs. ML a BtiD in the full 
possession of all her faculties and trequendy regales her fir ith inter- 

esting episodes, incident to pioneer •:: 

SAMUEL SMITH. 

Mr. Smith is a native of Lafayerte county, Mo. ; born April 6th, 1831 
He has been a continuous resident of this con: e his birth, and in the 

meantime has acquired as liberal an education a 5 afforded by the 

common schools. Is engaged in farming. He is the son of Charles and 
Smith. His father is a native of Virginia, and came to this county 
in 1S20. His mother was born in Tennessee and is the daughter of Sam- 
uel Fergurson, who settled here in 1831. Mr. Smith was married Feb. 
14, 1^ i N. McLaughlin, of this county, who died Oct. 

3, 1S75. He was again married to Ifia Tillie Morrison, also of this 



HMYOB.Y OF LAFAYETTE COCXTY. 

county. Their nuptials were celebrated Feb They hare two 

children, viz.: Famrie and Mary. >Ir. S. b a rufiog elder of Mt. Hebron 
church. His great-grandfathers were both engaged ia the Revofation ai v 
war. Postoffice, Mayview. 

ELGIN O. R7 

Mr. Rex was born in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1858. At the age of 
seven his parents moved with him to VBaon, where they lived until 1S66, 

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estate. He was united in marriage in February, 1870, to Ada B. Smith, 
of this county. They have one chflcL lion. Postcffice 

ai ir-z-z. its - 1. 

DAVID J. POWELL 

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both now living. Martha C R am sey , and David D. Parton. 

Mr ; . r - 71 t . . _ . . - • t : - _ - 

1867, to Miss Sarah A. Basham, of tins county. They have six cU- h e n 

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696 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

ANDREW L. A. FULTON. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Antrim county, Ireland, born 
in 1815. In 1840 he immigrated to the U. S. and settled in Ohio, where 
he remained until 1861, when he came to Lafayette county where he 
has since resided, engaged in farming. In February, 1843, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Margaret Orr, of Ohio, who is a native of the Emerald Isle, 
and came to the U. S. in 1839. They have seven children living, viz: 
Robert, Joseph W. M., Lorrimer A., Amabel, John A., Tazedith P., 
Emmett L. V. Mr. Fulton is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and also 
of the I. O. O. F. Postoffice is Greenton. 

LYCURGUS WILSON, 

P. O. Tabo, Missouri; son of John and Mary Wilson, was born Decem- 
ber 13, 1821, in Morgantown, Butler county, Kentucky, and is of English 
and Scotch descent. In 1828 he came with his parents to St. Louis, where 
his father died in 1837, and his mother in St. Louis county, in 1867. In 
1844 he visited Kentucky, remained there four years, following his father's 
trade, that of builder and contractor. July 1, 1847, he married Miss Mary 
D. James, of Butler county, Kentucky. He then moved to Waterloo, 
Clark county, Missouri, where he continued his trade for ten years. In 
1861 he moved to Dallas county, Texas, and lived there seven years. In 
1868 he moved to this county and settled in Washington township, where 
he now lives upon a farm of 100 acres of good and well improved land. 
He has kept the postoffice on the Warrensburg & Lexington mail line for 
seven years. He has four children living: John H., Lucy J., Mattie E., 
and Jeft Davis. He is a member of the Christian church, his wife a Bap- 
tist. He is a Free Mason. His two oldest children are married and settled 
close to him. 

DANIEL ALUMBAUGH, 

postoffice Tabo, Mo. Son of James and Eliza Alumbaugh. Was born 
April 10, 1849, in this county. His parents are of German and French 
descent, his father a Kentuckian and his mother from Tennessee, they 
being married in Sullivan county, Ind. Dan has followed the honorable 
avocation of farmer all his life, and was educated in the schools of the 
county. He has taken great interest in literary societies. He was mar- 
ried on the 23d of July, 1867, to Miss Eliza Wooton, of this county. She 
died a few months after marriage. In 1864 he enlisted under Gen. Shelby, 
in the confederate army and remained in service till the war closed, sur- 
rendering at Shreveport, and was in the battles and fights of Price's 
retreat to Arkansas. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, 
membership at Long Branch, and superintendent of the Sunday school. 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 697 

GEORGE W. BARTON, 

postoffice Mayview, son of Bently and Martha Barton, was born in this 
country June 3, 1843, where he was raised on a farm and educated. He is 
a self-made man, and has made himself conspicuous as an active worker 
in most public matters. In 1879 he tried his fortune in the silver mines of 
Colorado, was not very successful, and in eight months returned to his 
farm. He is a consistent member of the Baptist church, and has two 
brothers preachers in the same church. He is kind, intelligent, and a good 
citizen. 

ROBERT BUCHANAN, 

postoffice Tabo, son of Robert and Jane Buchanan, was born Oct. 26, 
1828, in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1842 he came with his parents to this 
country and landed at New Orleans. They took boat for Lexington, in 
this county, where they landed in June, 1842, and settled in Washington 
township, where he now lives. He has been twice married, first to Miss 
Elizabeth Saunders, of Johnson county, April 27, 1850, and has by that 
union six children living — Robt. C, John P., James D., Wm. F., Sallie M. 
and Emma F. His first wife died Sept. 23, 1878. He was married again 
Sept. 26, 1881, to Mrs. Jane Myers, also of Johnson county. His second 
wife had three children. Mr. Buchanan's mother is still living, and lives 
with him. She is 82 years old. He is a member and deacon of the Bap- 
tist church. 

HARRISON ANDERSON, 

post office Tabo, Missouri, son of William H. and Didama Anderson, was 
born Dec. 9, 1840, in this county, where he was raised on a farm and has 
been a farmer all his life. His father died when he was but eleven years 
old leaving him at that tender age in charge of his mother and sister. 
During the late war, in 1861 he was taken prisoner by Federal troops of 
McFeran's regiment, and held nine months in Lexington. In 1865 he 
took the oath of allegiance, paid his thirty dollars and went to Kansas for 
safety. In three months he returned and made a crop entirely without 
horses or mules. On the 24th of April, 1878, he married Miss Lucy 
Wilson, of this county, and has two children: Mary and Richard. 
He now owns a good farm of one hundred acres, black loam and hemp 
land. He and his wife are both members of the Christian church. 

CHARLES R. ANDERSON, 
post office Tabo, Mo., eldest son of William H. and Didama Anderson. 
His mother, Didama Anderson, was a daughter of Abner and Mary Dyer, 
was born May 2, 1807, in Warren county, Ky., and August 30, 1827, was 



698 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

married to Mr. Wm. H. Anderson. The next year, 1828, they came to 
this county and have lived here ever since. They had nine children: 
Eliza J., Charles R., Elizabeth H., Nancy E., James A., Harrison H., 
Julia C, Tirza M. and Esther A. These were all married and Tirza is 
now the only one of the girls living. They were all respectable members 
of the Christian church. Mr. Wm. H. Anderson went to California in 
1S50 and returned May 1, 1851 very ill and died the next day, May 2, 
1851. Mrs. Anderson is now keeping house for her youngest son. She 
has forty-six living grand-children, and has nine great grand-children 
married. She has been a member of the Christian church for fifty years. 
Her health is excellent. Her oldest son, Charles R. Anderson, was born 
Nov. 1, 1830, in this county. He was born and raised on a farm and has 
been a farmer all his life. At the age of twenty he went to California 
during the gold fever and remained there four years. Had good luck at 
mining. He returned by the isthmus, and bought a farm in Freedom 
township. In 1861 he enlisted in the M. S. G., and in the confederate ser- 
vice. May, 1863 he was taken prisoner at Big Black, Miss., and was in 
different prisons — Camp Morton, Ft Delaware, Point Lookout, Mo., Pal- 
myra, N. Y., was nearly starved to death and often guarded by 
negroes. In 1865 he was exchanged, and came home from Alabama 
in October, 1865. Sept. 4, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary E. 
Mathews, of this county, and has three children — Lee Price, Didama T. 
and Nancy E. He is now living on a farm of 180 acres of first-rate land 
in Washington township. 

LEVI M. FOX, 

P. O. Odessa. Son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Fox. Was born in Cook 
county, Tennessee, August 20, 1808. When he was nineteen years old, 
about the year 1827, he came to this county and settled one mile south of 
Dover. He was married October 31, 1833, to Miss Mary Nelson, of Lex- 
ington. He joined the state militia as a private to help drive the Mor- 
mons out of the state, and helped to guard Jo Smith before he went to 
Nauvoo, Illinois. Mr. Fox owned a fine farm of 320 acres, south of 
Dover, splendidly improved, upon which he raised annually from forty to 
fifty tons of hemp. He has reared a family of nine children, four boys 
and five girls, all living and married, except one girl, Margaret, who died at 
the age of nine years: Francis M., Calvin R., Wm. C, L. M., are the 
names of his sons. His wife died in the old home, February 11, 1874, at 
the age of sixty-three years. Since that event Mr. Fox has been living 
with his children. At present he is at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, with his 
youngest son and namesake, Levi Monroe, who was born June 25th, 1852, 
and was married December 23, 1875, to Miss Corintha A. Tracy, by whom 
he has two children: Willie L. and Lettie May. He is a good citizen, 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 699 

teaching and farming. His health was much shattered, and he went into 
the drug business in Odessa. Recently he has gone to the Eureka 
Springs, Arkansas, for the benefit of his health. 

JAMES A. ANDERSON, 

post office Tabo, son of William H. and Didama Anderson, was born in 
this county June 20, 1838, two miles south of where Higginsville now 
stands, where he was raised and educated. During the years 1858 and 
1859 he was in the employ of Russell & Majors, government freighters to 
the west and in the spring of 1860 was employed by Jones & Cartwright 
in the same business, when he crossed the plains, returning late the fol- 
lowing fall. Then had a hard spell of the typhoid fever it being twelve 
months before he recovered, which kept him out of the army. February 
16, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary E. Roach, of Johnson county, Mo. 
They have seven children now living: Charles R., Carrie E., Flora M., 
James H., Sue Ella, Arthur and Willie A. With two ponies and $160 
he began married life, renting a farm for two years. In 1866 he pur- 
chased 100 acres of land of his uncle, Ira Anderson, at $1,250 on twelve 
months time, which he paid for and on which he now lives; and has now 
a farm of 240 acres. 

JAMES MILAN, 

P. O. Mayview. Son of John and Ellen Milan, who came from Ireland 
in 1840, settling in Maysville, Kentucky, where they lived thirty years. 
About 1870 they moved to this county, and improved 100 acres in section 
6, township 48, range 26, which farm James now manages. He has man- 
aged well, and they are prospering. James was born in Kentucky, Mays- 
ville, June 17, 1857, and nature marked him for a good farmer. Coal 
abounds in the neighborhood, near the surface, and his whole farm is 
underlaid with coal. 

ADDISON HOOK, 

was born May 20, 1828, in Hampshire county, Virginia. In 1857 he 
moved to Lafayette county, and in 1865 purchased a farm of 192 acres, 
120 acres of which is in a high state of cultivation, well fenced and plenty 
of water, with good, rich pastures. Mr. Hook was married January 25, 
1853, to Miss Mary Carlyle. By this union they have seven children liv- 
ing: Walter, Edgar S., Laura E., William N., Charley A., Lucy M. and 
Arthur Duvall. Mr. Hook died on the 14th of February, 1881. He was 
a good citizen, esteemed and respected by neighbors. Edgar L. Sency 
Hook was born August 23, 1856, in Hampshire county, Virginia. He 
came to Lafayette county with his father and has remained here ever 
since, excepting one year spent in Colorado prospecting. At present he 



700 HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

is managing the home farm and providing for the wants of his mother in 
her old age. 

EDMOND J. CHAMBERS. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Lexington, Missouri, December 
25, 1847. His father died while going to California in 1849. Up to 1864 
Mr. Chambers worked hard, supporting himself and mother. At that 
time he enlisted in the confederate cause, under Gen. Shelby, in Gordon's 
regiment, and served until the close of the war. He surrendered at 
Shreveport, Louisiana, and on the 27th of June, 1865 returned home; he 
was married November, 1876, to Miss Cerelda Bates. Mr. Chambers 
was licensed to preach in March, 1874, in the M. E. church, south. He 
has a family of two children living: James L. and Annie May. Mr. C. is 
a quiet and peaceful citizen, honored and respected by his neighbors. 

WILLIAM CARTER, 

was born February 19, 1827, in Jessamine county, Kentucky. In 1869 he 
moved to Missouri and located in this county, in Freedom township. In 
1881 he moved to Washington township, where he now resides. Mr. 
Carter was married on April 15, 1849, to Miss Mary J. Sharp. He has a 
family of five children : Vina C, James, Almeda J., Thomas A., and George 
R. Himself, and wife and two daughters are members of the Missionary 
Baptist. Mr. Carter is highly esteemed by his neighbors, enjoying their 
entire confidence, as a Christian gentleman and a good citizen. 

JAMES BUCHANAN, 

P. O.Tabo, Missouri, son of Robert and James Buchanan; was born in 
Glasgow, Scotland, March 1, 1833. His father was a weaver by trade. 
In 1841 he came with his parents to this country, landing in New Orleans. 
They then came direct by river to this county, settling in Washington 
township on a farm. James was married January 15, 1857, to Miss 
Rebecca Donaldson of Johnson county, Missouri. They have five children: 
Lydia, James H., Charles, Rollie, and Eva. He has a fine farm of 160 
acres, and in fine condition. There is plenty of fine coal on his farm. 
Both he and wife are members of the Christian church. He is an excel- 
lent farmer, a quiet, peaceable, and highly respected citizen. 

REV. W. Y. RUSSELL, 

was born February 25, 1856, in Buchanan county, Missouri. In 1860 his 
parents moved to Kansas, and returned in 1861. In 1863 they moved to 
Iowa, and remained there two years, the next three years were spent in 
Missouri, Texas, Indian Territory. His parents are now living in Kansas, 
where the subject of this sketch left them, and returned on a visit to his 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 701 

old home, Buchanan county. While attending a protracted meeting there 
he was converted. In 1874 he entered college, remaining there two years 
at his own expense, acting as janitor, and on Saturdays sawing wood. He 
was licensed to preach February 16, 1877, by the Beaver Creek church, in 
Miami county, Kansas. In 1880 he left college, and has since been preach- 
ing, during which time he has converted not less than one hundred souls. 
His work has been in protracted meetings up to May last, since which 
time he has had charge of two congregations, one at Odessa, the other at 
Mound Prairie, this county. 



ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES. 

GEORGE KENTON, 

Davis township, P. O. Aullville. Son of John and Judith Kenton, was 
born in Missouri, Jan. 29, 1840. His father was married three times, and 
had twenty children. George was born in Carroll county, where he was 
raised and educated. At the age of twenty-five he engaged in the mer- 
cantile business at Milespoint three years. In the fall of 1869, he moved 
to the country. In 1874, he went to Independence Mo., and kept the old 
Independence hotel for six years. In 1880, he returned to Carroll county , 
and in 1881, came to a farm of 170 acres in Davis township, in this county 
where he now is. Nov. 23, 1865, he married Miss Sarah C. Hudson, of 
Jackson county Mo., and has five children: Eugene, Mary E., Wm. C.,. 
.Lou H. and Clara F. He is a grand-nephew of the famous pioneer, 
Simon Kenton. 

GEORGE B. KNEEDLER, 

Davis township, P. O. Aullville. Son of Jacob and Martha W. Kneedler, 
was born July 12, 1840, in St. Louis, Mo. His father was a brick-layer 
in St. Louis. When he was seven years old, he moved with his parents 
to Madison county, 111., twelve miles from St. Louis. He lived mostly in 
Illinois, until 1881, when he and his brother Wm. C. bought a tract of 689 
acres in this county where they now live. It is a fine farm, 400 acres in 
cultivation, underlaid with coal. They deal largely in stock, especially in 
sheep of fine class. He was married Feb. 9, 1865, to Miss Aurelia Win- 
ship of Collinsville, 111., and has two boys, Frank and Charley. He and 
his wife are members of the M. E. church south. His brother William 
married Jan. 2, 1866, to Miss Sarah E. Stoutzenberry of Illinois, and has 
five children. 



FF 



702 



HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 



WILLIAM WALTER, 

Davis township, P. O. Aullville. Eldest son of John and Elizabeth Wal- 
ter, was born June 1, 1825, in Adams county Pennsylvania. His parents 
were of German descent, and died in Virginia, in 1845, where they lived 
twelve years. In 1849, he married Miss Sarah A. Mills, on the 10th of Aug- 
ust, and in 1856, he moved to this county and settled in Davis township, one 
mile southeast of Higginsville. In 1880, he bought a farm of 160 acres, one 
mile north west of Aullville, where he now lives. He has a fine quarry 
of limestone rock upon his farm. He has five children, Mary E., John H.> 
Newton S., Lilly and Sindy. Mr. Walter took no part in the war. 




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